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Ashley Roberts made the admission on Heart Radio (Image: Heart Breakfast)
I’m A Celebrity’s Ashley Roberts has disclosed why she had a change of heart after initially turning down the opportunity to appear on the forthcoming All Stars edition of the ITV series. The Pussycat Dolls singer first appeared on I’m A Celebrity back in 2012 in what is widely considered one of the finest editions of the annual Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly programme.
Ashley Roberts, famed for her time with the Pussycat Dolls, has revealed why she reconsidered her initial decision to decline an offer to join the upcoming All Stars edition of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity. Ashley initially graced the jungle back in 2012, contributing to what many fans regard as one of the most memorable seasons of the show hosted annually by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.
During her original stint, Ashley shared the camp with Coronation Street’s Helen Flanagan, Linda Robson from Loose Women, and ex-darts professional Eric Bristow. She impressively made it to the final, finishing as runner-up behind EastEnders star Charlie Brooks, known for her role as Janine Butcher on the BBC series, who took the coveted title of queen of the jungle.
Ashley Roberts is part of the All Stars cast (Image: PA)
Establishing herself as a major star in the UK, Ashley subsequently worked on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Channel 4’s The Jump and Strictly Come Dancing. Partnered with Pasha Kovalev, Ashley was a runner-up on the Strictly series which was won by Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.
It was announced on Monday (March 10) that Ashley will be returning to the jungle in the second series of I’m A Celebrity South Africa. The inaugural series of the All Stars programme was won by Myleene Klass in 2023. Joining Ashley in South Africa are Emmerdale and Waterloo Road actor Adam Thomas, TV presenter Scarlett Moffatt, Coronation Street icon Beverley Callard, former champion boxer David Haye, comedian Seann Walsh, Red Dwarf and Coronation Street actor Craig Charles, Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah and TV personality Gemma Collins.
After her jungle adventure, Ashley became a familiar face on UK television, appearing on shows such as Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Channel 4’s The Jump, and Strictly Come Dancing. Paired with Pasha Kovalev, she danced her way to the finals of Strictly, finishing second to winners Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.
Fans learned on Monday, March 10, that Ashley would be venturing back into the jungle for the second series of I’m A Celebrity South Africa. The series, which first crowned Myleene Klass in 2023, will see Ashley joined by a diverse group of celebrities including Emmerdale and Waterloo Road’s Adam Thomas, TV host Scarlett Moffatt, Coronation Street’s Beverley Callard, former boxing champion David Haye, comedian Seann Walsh, Red Dwarf and Corrie star Craig Charles, Olympic hero Sir Mo Farah, and TV personality Gemma Collins.
Completing the star-studded lineup are ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard and former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp, who was the king of the jungle in 2018. Although the series will be pre-recorded, viewers will have the chance to vote for the ultimate legend of 2026 in a live finale broadcast from London.
With Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda joking that ‘money talks’, Ashley said ‘there comes a time when you want to challenge yourself a little bit’. She noted: “I was like, I’m going to prove myself I can do some wild things, I said yes… We did shoot a little bit of it last year, but there’s going to be a live final this time around which is something they’ve never done before.”
Reflecting on her campmates, Ashley singled out Adam as being ‘so sweet’, while also praising Sir Mo, crediting him as someone the camp ‘wouldn’t have survived without’ thanks to his culinary talents.
“Listen this show changed my life, it’s the reason I’m here, it’s the reason I’m an adopted Brit, going back and paying homage to what brought me here,” she teased.