The 2026 season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is already delivering high-stakes drama, with singer Deni Hines at the centre of a heated confrontation that left fellow contestant Nath Valvo visibly distressed.
Explosive Clash in the South African Jungle
During Monday's episode of the popular Channel 10 reality series, the 55-year-old performer, best known for her hit "It's Alright," engaged in a tense exchange with comedian Nath Valvo that nearly brought him to tears. The conflict began when Hines criticised Triple J star Concetta Caristo for not contributing sufficiently to camp duties before turning her attention directly to Valvo.
In a moment that stunned both Valvo and viewers, Hines bluntly declared, "You're lazy as f***." The comedian appeared taken aback by the harsh assessment, responding defensively, "Can you not say that, Den, because I've been offering [to help out] but I get told off."
Emotional Fallout and Camp Tensions
Attempting to downplay the severity of her remarks, Hines adopted a playful tone, sitting beside Valvo and insisting, "I do not tell you off." However, Valvo remained unmoved, telling her firmly, "No, honestly. Don't throw that at me."
While Valvo maintained composure during his direct conversation with Hines, he revealed his true emotional state when discussing the incident privately with campmates Concetta Caristo and Matt Zukowski. Visibly upset, he confessed, "I feel like she's going out of her way to embarrass me in front of people and I just don't know what to do about it."
The situation escalated when Caristo apologised for not defending Valvo during the confrontation, causing him to become overwhelmed with emotion. Sensing his distress, Zukowski offered support, saying, "Don't cry, bro." Valvo responded emotionally, "I want to be funny, I don't want to cry near a creek. I'm here to be a comedian."
Fan Reactions and Social Media Backlash
A clip of Valvo's emotional breakdown was subsequently shared on the official I'm A Celebrity Instagram page, prompting an outpouring of support for the comedian and criticism of Hines' behaviour.
Former I'm A Celebrity contestant and Gogglebox star Yvie Jones expressed sympathy directly to Valvo, writing, "I’m really sorry you had to see her speaking about you like she did tonight. I hope you are ok and surrounded by loved ones. And for what it’s worth, no one believes you talk too much. Well I don’t. And my opinion is clearly more important than anyone in the whole world. I’m absolutely loving watching you."
Other viewers questioned Hines' suitability for the reality programme, with one commenting, "I don’t understand how Deni would come into the jungle not knowing about or seeing the show. It doesn’t make sense. I hope she can get on better with the camp mates and enjoy the experience." Another added, "Why would Deni go on a show like this if she doesn’t like to be around people and wants her space!"
Speculation About Contestant Departure
With Channel 10 teasing that one contestant will "walk" during Tuesday's episode, many fans speculated that Hines might be the one to leave. One viewer wrote, "Please be Deni, I usually love this show but she’s completely ruining it," while another predicted, "It’s obvious it’s gonna be Deni."
However, some suggested Hines might remain in the competition due to her dramatic impact on ratings, with one commenter noting, "Deni, please, but she will probably stay as she stirs the pot. All about ratings."
Historical Context and Past Controversies
Entertainment expert and former campmate Richard Reid expressed little surprise at Hines' behaviour, referencing her controversial appearance on the 2011 season of Celebrity Apprentice Australia. Reid commented, "Even Blind Freddie could see this coming. Anyone remember her from Celebrity Apprentice? Some people just don’t belong in social situations – at least she knows herself."
AFL WAG Jesinta Franklin, who competed alongside Hines in Celebrity Apprentice, concurred with Reid's assessment, simply stating, "It's giving Apprentice." During that earlier reality series, Hines was frequently portrayed as the villain and faced multiple accusations of bullying before being eliminated in the third week.
That season featured notable contestants including Pauline Hanson, model Didier Cohen, AFL legend Shane Crawford, and ironically, current I'm A Celebrity host Julia Morris, who ultimately won the competition.
The ongoing drama continues to unfold as I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! airs its next episode on Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10, with viewers eagerly awaiting potential developments in the escalating camp tensions.
