ITV executives have reportedly formulated a strategy to manage what's being called the 'Kelly Brook problem' as Ant and Dec face an awkward reunion with the model and actress on the upcoming series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.
The Source of the Tension
The roots of this potential on-screen tension stretch back to 2009 when Kelly Brook joined Britain's Got Talent as a fourth judge. Her tenure lasted merely days before she departed the show under controversial circumstances. While Simon Cowell publicly attributed her exit to the four-judge format not working, Kelly Brook claimed Ant and Dec influenced her removal.
According to sources speaking to The Sun and Daily Mail, Brook previously stated: 'The people at ITV were telling me that I had upset Ant and Dec, and that was it. I would love to have stayed on the show.' She added that while the presenting duo were 'pleasant to my face,' she believed 'clearly, they didn't want me on the show.'
Conflicting Accounts and Apprehension
In their memoir, Ooh! What a Lovely Pair: Our Story, Ant and Dec presented a different perspective on the situation. They revealed their surprise when during her first day, Kelly Brook asked Dec: 'And what do you do on the show?' The hosts expressed that they 'felt sorry' for Kelly after the arrangement didn't work out but maintained they were told 'it wasn't anything personal with Kelly; it was just the four judges didn't work.'
Now, as Kelly Brook joins the I'm A Celebrity 2025 lineup, which includes Martin Kemp, Alex Scott, Ruby Wax, and Jack Osbourne among others, sources indicate 'apprehension on both sides' about the reunion. A friend of Kelly Brook told The Sun: 'Kelly might be all smiles, but underneath, she is a tough, tough woman who doesn't take well to being crossed. She thinks Ant and Dec sneered at her for being a Page 3 girl; they didn't think she had any talent.'
ITV's Damage Control Strategy
Facing what insiders have dubbed the 'Kelly problem,' ITV bosses are determined to address the situation directly rather than ignore the elephant in the room. According to Daily Mail sources, Ant and Dec are considering making a joke of their past tensions during the show's broadcast.
However, the same sources suggest Kelly Brook is 'unlikely to see the funny side' of any such attempts at humour. Contrasting reports indicate that Brook is preparing to make 'great television' from the reunion, with friends noting she 'doesn't forget' those who have wronged her.
The situation presents a significant challenge for ITV as they navigate the delicate dynamics between their star presenters and a campmate with whom they share a complicated history. How this plays out on screen remains to be seen when I'm A Celebrity launches on Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
