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I’m a Celebrity: what happened between Shaun Ryder and Gillian McKeith? Feud explained

The pair have reunited on I’m a Celebrity… South Africa 

Shaun Ryder and Gillian McKeith on I'm a Celebrity 2010
Emmy Griffiths
TV & Film Editor
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I’m a Celebrity… South Africa is finally on our screens - and has united several former campmates - for better and for worst! Two contestants who were certainly not thrilled to see one another were Shaun Ryder and Gillian McKeith, who spent time in the jungle together in the 2010 season of the ITV show. But why don’t they like one another? 

Upon Gillian’s arrival, Shaun told the Bush Telegraph: “Gillian came out of a box. I was very surprised. I probably could have done without it being Gillian, yeah… I’ve been trying to be nice to her. I’m a different person, whatever. I don’t think Gillian was pleased to see me.” 

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Paul Burrell later asked Shaun if the TV personality was “mad as a box of frogs” to which he replied: “Yeah… I nearly killed her.” Gillian was also less than thrilled, adding: “How do I feel about Shaun Ryder being here? I said hello, he said hello, it was all very cordial. What can I say?”

Back in 2010, the pair certainly wasn’t the best of friends during their time on the show, and ended up arguing while doing a challenge, with the Celebrity Gogglebox star calling Gillian a “[expletive] irritating woman”. She replied: “You say nasty things all the time... your tone, everything. The way you speak to everyone.”

Shaun Ryder and Gillian McKeith in the Chest Challenge on I'm a Celebrity© Rex
Shaun Ryder and Gillian McKeith in the Chest Challenge on I'm a Celebrity

They also argued about his smoking and swearing, to which he later apologised. Gillian admitted that she was “frightened” of Shaun, but added that they had a “love-hate relationship”. Shaun was less friendly, stating that his campmate “had no manners”. Oh dear.  

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While chatting to Ant and Dec following his exit, he added: “If Gillian was my wife, she would be in pieces in a plastic bag, deep in a hole in the back garden.”

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