We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson - Why I Had To Leave The Jungle! We're Talking: I'm a Celeb

Episode Date: November 27, 2025

We sit down with I'm A Celeb stars Kerry Katona, Myleene Klass and Tulisa to discuss the highs and lows of their time in the jungle! (00:00) Intro (00:35) Kerry's Experience of Winning 'I'm a Celeb' (05:46) Myleene's Experience of 'I'm a Celeb' and That White Bikini (10:46) Tulisa's 'I'm a Celeb' Experience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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But for those who've lived it, the jungle is something else entirely. In this episode, past campmates reflect on what really happens when the cameras stop rolling. The fear, the friendships and the Bush Tucker trials. So I was just doing bits of presenting and I got off of the jungle and I thought, oh, I want to do it. And Brian said, you make a show myself and I got Lou Walsh to convince Brian's let me do it. it okay so then once you knew you were going to do it how did that then did that what did that disagreement no I think I think he was still in Westlife at this point he said because you know at the end where someone comes out and meets you me walk off the

bridge yes he said I can't come on going be on tour fair enough Oscar Angela to come and meet me you know he didn't want really anything to do with it but I think that the more the show went on and the more that people saw a lot of the park. Because at the beginning, they thought I was I got nicknamed the women's from Windjew because I also did, was cry. I won't go home to my mansion. I miss Brian. I miss

Nicky's and I won't go home. I can't do it, I can't do it, no. And I was having panic attacks. I was a mess. Yeah, but I'm a celebrity. Yeah. That show, I think, is very hard. It's very challenging.

At least, I mean, I've never been on it, but from looking at it, it seems like It's challenging, right? Yeah. You've got to find your feet. Yes, and the idea is to put pressure on these celebrities. Oh, that's why you get staffed. And, I mean, you really are hungry.

You really are hungry. Yeah. But I kind of went into it blind a little bit, so I didn't really, I just thought, for me, Paul, when I get asked to do these things, I think, what a great adventure. This kid from Fosso Home is doing these, you know, I don't go and sit and do a normal job nine to five.

And I just think, on my death bed, I'm going to go, did it all. Oh my goodness. Done it all. Well, great. And that's all I can tech with me. I can't take this, can't take the Lamborghinis, can't do it. All I can tech is the memories I've created for me and my children.

Yes. That's it. Yes. That's all you have. Your last thought when you close your eyes, that's going to be it. I came in this world with nothing, but I want to make sure I leave with every amazing memory I can possibly create. And that was part of your rationale for saying, I'm going to do, I'm a celebrity. even though your husband was saying

but your husband was saying don't do it and me being told not to do something Paul doesn't really work out too well for a lot of people because they end up proven them wrong anyway all right and you sure I did because you ended up winning I did all right from what I understand you were the first woman

to win highest ratings I've ever had I'm a celebrity okay look at this look at this so then you win and when you win you're right normally there's someone that comes out from your family or friends. And it was supposed to be Arangela.

Okay. And as I sat there, Anton Deco, we got a surprise, we got Brian on the phone. I was like, oh, are you, babe, yeah, right, how are you doing? And then he came walking out. I was like, what are you? Oh, my God, what are you doing?

Because I love you. Declared his love to me on it. And everyone, everyone was crying. It was a massive love story. And how did you feel in that moment? I was, I was just over the moon. When you're doing a show like that, you don't realize the attention

it's getting back at home. It wasn't that big when I, when we did it, that show made it so big. Don't forget we had Peter O'Hon doing, we had Katie Price in there. Their love story. So we're just, we've got no phones, no nothing. You know, we've got Johnny Rotten in there.

I'm the youngest in there. And I think I don't, and I'm in final. I'm thinking, what? I'm like, why am I at final? I actually thought, I'll go in jungle, right? You go to Australia, you get putting the Vizarch Hotel, so I'll be the first one voted out. I just gone piss with that and deck.

And I thought, don't walk, wait to get voted out because I was so close to walking. I like, just wait, just wait to get voted out and then at least you can say you did as much as you could. I just kept staying and staying, I thinking, don't get this. Really? I didn't get it at all.

But now, from what I also understand is part of it is a bit of a popularity contest because it's the public that is supporting you, right? Yeah, that's what I didn't get. But yeah, so did you... I didn't do... I don't know what I did in there to have won that.

I don't... I don't know why... I don't... Like, I did Big Brother. I was like 17 votes off winning and I was running up. I don't know what it is. I did because I think I'm a bit of a knob.

Okay. Maybe that's what it is. No, and I do. Because you had the Katie and the Peter story. They was always, you know, and then when I watch it back and then see Johnny Rot and say, I want Kerry to win this.

I was like, You didn't realize how big this was in the UK. It took over. Yeah, everything. Everything. It was appointment. It was, the mayor of Warrington opened up the house and the grounds, and everyone who was a big battle with my welcome home carry.

I was like, this is nuts. Wow. And they got off that plane, Paul. I've never seen press like it in my life, and that's why it changed me, Brian. And that, oh, okay. How does your television career really start? Is it I'm a celebrity?

Is that first catapult? Yeah. So I did on, I've done I'm a celebrity twice. But the first time I did it, it just came left to fields. It changed everything. Okay. I had nothing left to prove. But I think I just looked sort of just, I don't know,

not very capable, I would probably say, like a bit small and dull like somebody said when I went in. And it was really nice to go in and just show that I'm tough. I'm mentally extremely strong. And I don't think a lot of people probably think that. But I'm tough. So did you feel like going on to I'm a celebrity the first time, right? I had nothing to lose. It was nothing to lose, but it was, but I have something to prove.

I think I had a lot to prove to myself. Everybody that knew me said, don't do it. it bar a couple of people. My best mate, Lauren, Lauren LeVern, she said to do it. Did you go further, you know, I'm a celebrity than you thought you would? Every single time someone picked the phone up who kept me in, I couldn't believe it. Couldn't believe it. And then when I got out, it's really funny because I actually thought I was going to either get a rice commercial

because I made the rice, so they kept burning the rice. You know, I'm Asian. I've got the rice. Like this I could do. What are you all doing to the rice? Like my Filipino auntie must have been like, what are you doing? Everyone puts too much water. Yeah, yeah. And then they then kill it.

Yeah, so I got involved. You didn't think that you would get a white bikini commercial. Are you sure? I was in there with Fina Orichet, who was in a program called Footballers Wives, who looks like this Amazonian goddess. And I was in there with faith. who, bless her, I am not well endowed, but faith got the gift. And I thought that, you know, those shower scenes, I admit, looking from the outside,

looking in, they look great. But what you don't see is if they just frame out a little bit wider, you've got Dean Gaffney and Toby Anastis all waiting with their razors and their soap and their towels because you're in and then you're out. And the next person's in and then they're out because that waterfall is on and off. Yes. They decide when you're going to wash. when you're not.

Yes. But now, if we could talk about that scene in particular, because I've noticed a lot of online chatter about those scenes. It was the most Googled. I was the most Googled name globally, top three during that time. Okay. It was a moment. It was a moment.

It was a serious moment. Yeah. You know? Honestly, I couldn't have written that script. It was written for me. I went in with a stripy bikini. And I was told moments before you can't wear that. It's going to strobe on camera.

Go and get a plain bikini. You don't even have long. We'll go with the researcher because you weren't allowed to meet or bump into anybody else. You get the plainest bikini you can find. And I went into the shop and I said, I need the plainest bikini. You go, here's a white bikini. I owe that girl. I have that girl.

I have her a phone. You owe her a lot. I do. You owe her a lot. Yeah. So you would say then that as well. as everything else, the rice, etc., contributed to you, you were runner up. I came runner up that time.

Now, runner up on Ama Celebrity, especially then, right? That typically catapults people to the next. Do you feel like Ama Celebrity moved you into a different perspective with the audience? 100% it gave me a chance to be a person again. Okay. Honestly, and it was like going to Girl Scouts. I'd never been to camp. I'd never done anything like that.

So I loved every second. You hear people who were just begging to get out. I was begging to stay in. Wow, look at that. Yeah. Look at that. It was unbelievable. By the time you left I'm a celebrity,

do you feel like you had found your voice? I feel like I'd found the confidence. Oh God, it sounds so, ha, to be me, but I felt it was okay to actually be me. Because there was no editing because you don't know which bits they're going to use. So you can only be yourself. Yeah. Let's think about that. What year was that?

2006. 2006. So 2006 is the first time where you thought, it's okay to be me. Yeah. Wishing you could be there live for the big game, soaking up the atmosphere. fear of the crowd, but too often, life gets busy, or the price holds you back. Priceline is here to help you make it happen. With millions of deals on flights, hotels, and rental cars, you can go see the game live. Don't just dream about the trip. Book it with Priceline.

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Yeah. I could see why this is a good choice. Yeah. It's a massive show. Yeah. And, you know, everyone, there was interest in everyone, but let's face it, there was a lot of interest in you. Yeah.

Okay, a lot of interesting. Some right reasons, some wrong. Yeah, and I would imagine, some people are like, okay, I want to see the disaster show up. Yeah. And others were curious about who was going to show up. And then you had fans and supporters. Yeah.

So what was that experience like for you? Absolute roller coaster. I couldn't put it in one word because some days it felt like one thing. Other days it felt like something else. Running up to it, even though I said, right, I'm going to do it. I was terrified. Like I was going to back out the week before. Yeah.

Like I was sat with on the phone to my manager and I don't think I can do this. I really felt like I wanted to, but I still had those weak moments where I was just terrified. What was terrifying for you? Being in the spotlight, being exposed, the fear of the people that have tried to set me up so many times. I'm going to draw attention to myself again. I might put myself in danger. the feeling of like when I'm exposed and I'm in the public eye too much to that extent

someone's going to try and tear me down it's going to go bad okay yeah okay reasonable yeah given what's happened in your life yeah so you're there right and for what everyone says you know all the reports but who knows but all the reports

is like you were in their handling your business yeah I mean I was in a lot of moments handling my business. Some of the things you didn't see, though, was I had night terrors for the first four days. I was waking up out of my sleep, going, and I was having anxiety attacks. Those parts, not everyone knows, so it wasn't completely smooth sailing from me. That's awesome. But I have a great poker face.

I really can turn it on, and especially when I'm faced with adversity. And the last thing I wanted to do was go in there and, you know, be the hot mess. So if anything, I'm going to be the biggest soldier there is. So as soon as I'm set with a task, you know, and I'm going in and I'm jumping out a plane, I'm going to look like a warrior because that is what I do. I might sit and cry under the sleeping bag. That's also a part of who I am. Did you?

I mean, I did cry in the BT at one point, but I definitely had an anxiety attack off camera because I went to the smoking area to do it. And even then, I didn't want them to know that I was having an anxiety attack. So I was trying to bring down my heart rate literally through my nose while I was like okay get the heart rate down get the heart rate down so I wanted to leave

that day I was like I can't do this but it's not what I came here for I came here to stick it out and do whatever I had to do and there were lots of amazing moments really joyful moments thanks to the people there's the people that made those moments

they loved you they loved you and I loved them and their comedy and they're fun the way they were just uplift you. Very empathetic people really checked in on me. They saw at times I was having a little bit of a struggle. I was also a massive introvert.

I am a massive introvert, but I was really getting a little bit overwhelmed in there. So I was probably the least around in camp. I would go and remove myself and go for walks or go and hide in the donny. I spend 90% of my time alone. The agoraphobia I was telling you off the back of the benzopines. and being alone for so long,

I got super overwhelmed being around so many people. And they could see that and they were really understanding about that. You know, they had jokes like, where she's gone to the Airbnb? That's it. She's just, and she'll be back.

You know, and they haven't seen me for season. I'm like, what are you doing? I'm like, bro, I've just been staring at a palm tree. Like, I just needed... That time away. I needed a minute. And when I came out, I think actually the biggest,

thing for me that took me over the edge was introvert overload. Explain. Too much. I had pushed myself into doing this and I was ready to overcome all the fears and being in the spotlight but being watched consistently so many hours a day, nowhere to hide, nowhere to run, feeling so exposed, everyone can see me. And also this underlying fear, probably irrational of being watched. Yes, by millions. But being watched from the Mahmood thing,

feeling under surveillance. It has like a subconscious thing in there. I don't like being watched, which they say don't go on there then because you know what you're getting into, but part of this was, no, I'm going to go on and I'm going to face all these crazy-ass irrational fears.

Right, right. Like, that was part of the plan. Like, I know I was going to go on there. I feel super uncomfortable. I was terrified. but I wanted to push myself through that uncomfort so I could come out and feel over it. Yes.

And in many ways, I do. I'm like, I did it. You did? I did it. But when I came out, I began to cry when I had my first moment to myself and the first thing I did

when I spoke to the team, they were like, what's wrong? And I said, please don't put me back on camera. I need to be off now too much. I push myself too. I'm really proud of myself but I push myself too far too soon.

I need to go home. And they allowed you? Yeah. To go. They've been really good really good with me. This makes sense because I think the big question was where is Talisa? Yeah. Where did she go? Yeah. Why did she go? Yeah. But you've just given the answer.

Yeah. It's too much. Too much too soon. Listen, I did it. I handed it. I feel like I I did what I signed up for. But I came out, I processed. I was feeling the way I was feeling. There's 11 other really happy campers there that are really happy to be there, happy to have the holiday and, you know, do it all with energy, with smiles.

And you have someone that sat crying in their hotel room. In this current age that we live in, it's like, you want me to be there out of principle when I'm having a breakdown right now? Right. I need to go home and process this. Other people are not having the same experience as me. They haven't had the same experiences in the past, and they're all current people that are doing radios

or they're on television. This is very much the norm for them. This, for me, was a psychological experiment for myself. Right. This is a very important point, because you did this primarily for you. Yeah. So the moment that the experiment ends,

you now are complete. Yeah. You don't feel like you owe anyone. No. Anything. Exactly that. And I'm not trying to get anything more out of it in terms of, you know, in TV. Exposure, etc.

Yeah. So I guess in a way I'm blessed to be that person that can say if my mind isn't feeling healthy, after everything that I have been through in this life, I am going to take care of myself. And right now, I am done. Yeah. I'm not going to push myself any more over any edges. I have been over enough edges in my life. Yes.

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