The glittering return of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! to television screens brings with it memories of both triumph and tragedy from seasons past. While viewers eagerly anticipate this year's drama-filled episodes, the show's history is shadowed by the heartbreaking story of one former contestant: comedy legend Freddie Starr.
The Jungle Exit That Changed Everything
In 2011, at age 68, Freddie Starr entered the Australian jungle alongside fellow celebrities including Made in Chelsea's Mark Wright. His participation was cut dramatically short after a particularly gruelling Bushtucker Trial that saw the comedian consume a fermented egg, pig's anus and camel's toe alongside his trial partner.
The physical toll proved too much. Starr collapsed shortly after the challenge, with doctors suspecting he had suffered a severe allergic reaction. ITV producers made the difficult decision to remove him from the show entirely, citing serious health concerns.
An insider revealed at the time: "Freddie is clearly not well and life in the jungle is tough. The last thing we want is for him to get really ill or, heaven forbid, die live on television. It felt irresponsible to allow him back in the jungle."
A Reclusive Final Chapter
Following his jungle exit, Starr's life took a downward spiral. The once household name became increasingly reclusive, relying on his Bulgarian carer Nelly as his only regular company. Reports suggest he had become estranged from all six of his children in his final years.
Nelly later revealed that Starr felt "the British people had deserted him" and harboured negative feelings about his homeland. She discovered his body when he suffered a fatal heart attack in 2019 at his modest £170,000 one-bedroom apartment on Spain's Costa del Sol.
Pauper's Grave Avoided By Stranger's Compassion
The extent of Starr's financial difficulties became apparent after his death. Authorities initially considered a pauper's burial in Spain before Sheffield-based funeral director Michael Fogg stepped forward to cover all repatriation and funeral costs.
Fogg explained his decision: "Anyone who can make a funeral director laugh must be a bloody good comedian. And Freddie Starr could make me laugh. He shouldn't be buried in foreign land, he should be brought back to be in his own country."
He added: "For those asking why I am paying, well it is my money, it is my business and that is what I want to spend my money on. He should be reunited with the people he loved and his family."
The tragic story serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly fortune can change, even for the most celebrated entertainers. While I'm A Celebrity continues to create new memories each year, Freddie Starr's experience stands as one of its most poignant and heartbreaking chapters.
