In a surprising television comeback, comedian Seann Walsh is returning to the I'm A Celebrity franchise, joining the spin-off programme Unpacked just three years after his controversial jungle appearance.
From Strictly Scandal to Jungle Redemption
The comedian first entered the I'm A Celebrity jungle in 2022 as a late arrival, but his participation was shadowed by his notorious 2018 Strictly Come Dancing scandal. Walsh was photographed sharing a kiss with his professional dance partner Katya Jones while both were in relationships with other people.
Both parties issued apologies at the time, describing the incident as a "drunken mistake". However, Walsh later revealed the profound personal impact, suffering intense panic attacks and feeling he was "living without hope" for the first time.
Speaking on the Take Flight podcast in 2021, Walsh confessed: "A kiss and a statement destroyed my dreams and who I was. What I could have been, what my life could have been – what I could have made myself – was gone."
New Beginnings and Family Life
Since the scandal, Walsh's life has transformed significantly. He now shares two children – daughter Wylda and son Casper – with choreographer and dance teacher Grace Adderley.
Despite finishing in 11th place during his 2022 I'm A Celebrity appearance, his invitation to join the Unpacked panel demonstrates his continued connection to the programme's family.
Host Joel Dommett, who presents alongside Capital Radio's Kemi Rodgers, revealed their long-standing relationship: "I've known him for years and years. I'll always remember that Seann was in a competition with me on my fourth ever gig, he went through to the semi finals and I didn't."
Dommett added: "We've buried the hatchet now," acknowledging Walsh's superior comedy skills during their early careers.
Star-Studded Spin-Off Lineup
This year's Unpacked show features an impressive roster of familiar faces alongside Walsh. The panel includes England footballer Jill Scott and former King of the Jungle Sam Thompson.
Dommett expressed excitement about Scott's participation: "Our last Queen of the Jungle, Jill Scott came out last year and she's just so lovely and so funny and also an incredible athlete. It's a mad thing, you forget that alongside this she's also an incredible football player."
The presenter also revealed he's bringing his entire family to Australia for the show's duration, following main host Dec Donnelly's tradition. Dommett shares four-year-old son Wilde with wife Hannah Cooper, whom he married in 2019.
"This year I'm taking my family with me," Dommett explained, "so it's going to be great getting home from work and being able to see them and Wilde learning how to swim and all of that stuff."
Co-host Kemi Rodgers shared her enthusiasm for the new series while hoping to avoid recreating last year's jungle creature incident that saw her screaming on camera during her introduction.
The main I'm A Celebrity series, presented by Ant and Dec, begins on Sunday 16th November 2025, featuring celebrities including Emmerdale's Lisa Riley, former model Kelly Brook, and musician Martin Kemp.
