The stars of I'm a Celebrity... South Africa are set to reunite for the live final on Friday night, after weeks packed with dramatic moments in camp. Ashley Roberts has revealed she has made a pact with fellow campmate Scarlett Moffatt to stay close during the highly anticipated finale, hosted by Ant and Dec.
All of the all-stars cast, with the exception of Beverley Callard due to illness, are expected to gather for the finale. Together, they will look back on the series, filmed last year, and ultimately discover who will be crowned the Legend of the Jungle.
Reflecting on her experience, Ashley explained that she and Scarlett have agreed to stick together amid concerns that tensions could resurface. The series has been marked by dramatic moments, including a heated exchange between Adam Thomas and Jimmy Bullard, an ongoing feud between Adam and David Haye, and a sharp exchange between Sinitta and Gemma Collins.
Speaking on Heart Radio with Amanda Holden and Jason King, Ashley admitted she hopes for a calmer atmosphere during the reunion. "There's been a lot going on this series. Lots of drama, lots of headlines, and I'm really hoping tonight is a civil ceremony, but I really don't know what will be going down," she said.
Because of that uncertainty, Ashley revealed she and Scarlett have made a conscious decision to "stay close to each other and keep to our own little bubble" throughout the evening. The Pussycat Dolls star also reflected on the imbalance between drama and lighter moments in the final edit. "It's a shame because there were a lot of beautiful, funny moments that didn't make the edit due to all the other stuff that was going on. But I'm hoping everyone is there," she added.
Amanda Holden, who also works alongside Ant and Dec on Britain's Got Talent, admitted she expects fireworks and is particularly interested to see how the hosts handle any potential tension. "It's all going to kick off. I'm thinking about Ant and Dec; they're so calm and professional, so they won't get involved, but I cannot wait to see how they wrangle it," she joked.
Ashley agreed that emotions had been running high throughout the series, prompting Amanda to add that the final could offer an opportunity for the celebrities to "clear the air" once and for all. The dancer also addressed reports that Jimmy Bullard may be considering boycotting the final altogether, following his heated clash with Adam after pulling out of the Rancid Run trial. If Jimmy were to skip the live show, reports suggest he could be in breach of his contract, potentially putting part of his fee at risk.
The celebrities still in contention for the Legend of the Jungle title include Adam, Mo Farah, Harry Redknapp, and Craig Charles. The live final of I'm a Celebrity... South Africa airs tonight at 7:30pm on ITV and ITVX.
