I’m A Celebrity: Five thought-provoking moments by the creek including One Love in men’s football

Time spent near ‘blue space’ such as lakes, ponds or the sea has been proven to be good for your body and mind.

This statement is echoed by the 2022 I’m A Celebrity contestants as the campmates have been opening up to one another by the creek on the ITV reality show.

Deep meaningful chats including how celebrities found their sexuality and how many overcame obstacles such as anxiety or discrimination have been discussed by the small waterway, providing an insight into the celeb’s lives and a balance from the usual hijinx of Bushtucker trials.

The power of water has been essential to this year’s camp, not only for letting them relax and talk about their experiences, but also as water has been a common theme in challenges.

Viewers last night saw Owen Warner tackle Boiling Point 2.0 as the Hollyoaks star swam through tunnels just as Chris Moyles did the week before. The Radio DJ had also faced water-based Bushtucker trials alongside Boy George in the second episode when their torpedo tubes filled with water.

Boy George too has tackled his fair share as he took part in a challenge with Charlene White with the water level steadily rising albeit for a short amount of time before the Loose Women star yelled, ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here.’

While Babatúndé Aléshé may be exempt from water challenges, he has not missed out from the DMCs down at the creek with fellow campmates Jill Scott and Seann Walsh.

Jill’s football journey

Despite being a UEFA-winning Lioness, Jill Scott revealed she faced some backlash as a child when pursuing her ambition of football.

She told Charlene White and A Place in the Sun host Scarlette Douglas that her Grandma reckoned she would be a footballer as early as four-months-old.

However, Jill admitted that while kids accepted her as a footballer, adults were less inviting.

She said: “If I beat their precious son, they’d shout stuff at us. Like ‘kick her, hack her down…’ I’d come off the pitch literally in tears.”

Matt Hancock’s dyslexia

Matt Hancock’s entrance into the Australian jungle proved very controversial across the UK as many questioned his motivation for appearing in the reality show while he is a serving politician.

The former health secretary is still not a favourite in many people’s eyes due to his affair scandal during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Matt responded to the queries regarding his £400,000 appearance by suggesting that he wanted to raise awareness to dyslexia.

The MP confessed to Babatunde and Seann at the creek: “The moment I was identified as dyslexic at university, it was ‘ahhh, so actually I am ok with language, it's just that my brain works differently and I can work on that.’”

Babatúndé's world

Continuing the DMC about the importance of being ‘seen’ whoever you are or wherever you come from, Babatúndé told Seann and Matt that he resonates on the same level as the MP.

He said: “I love that. Basically, I felt the same but in a different way. Not to make it too deep, but when it comes to race. I remember when I went to drama school, I didn't feel seen, and I was the only black person in my class…I felt so out of place.

“My world is totally different to the both of yours. And when I started to have the liberty to just be like this is who I am…that is just me. The middle class Baba’s started to arrive, like ‘ooo pate!’”

Seann Walsh’s anxiety

Although Seann Walsh has provided plenty of laughs to this year’s camp and is often seen cracking up at celebrity’s jokes, the comedian opened up about his anxiety while washing in the creek.

He asked Owen whether he was finding the ‘jungle adventure difficult’ to which the 23-year-old actor replied, he had been but not as much any more and asked if Seann was coping.

Seann said: “I think for me, there’s quite a lot of anxiety in the day. If I don’t know what’s coming, I do not like it. I get really panicked….That’s why I pay a woman a weekly fee to help me with.”

The pair discussed how therapy is essential for emotional support and how it is crucial to wear your heart on your sleeve.

Seann added: “I just had a horrific experience the last time I did something like this, and then coming back, this is absolutely wonderful, but it’s brought that back.”

The conversation ended with Seann calling Owen a ‘wise young man’ to which Owen quipped, ‘the first time I have been called that’.

One Love

Throughout their time in the spotlight, both Boy George and Jill Scott have been open about their sexualities.

The pop icon and former professional football player spoke about their progression about finding out who they loved when they sat beside the creek with Seann Walsh, and also discussed how the world views sexuality.

Jill suggested that it should be as simple as, “you find someone, you fall in love with them. If it’s a woman, a man…I don’t think it defines you.”

The conversation then turned to a timely debate about how coming out in men’s football is way harder than the female sport.

Jill continued: “I think in the men’s game, it’s so difficult. If you think about how much stick they get from chants…it’s just not a safe environment, where they feel safe enough to do that. And that’s so sad.

“In women’s football it’s just never an issue. Some have partners that are female, some are married to men.”