Martin Roberts makes feelings clear on ITV I’m A Celebrity line-up as he applauds major change by bosses
Former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Martin Roberts has made his feelings clear on the class of 2024 – and praised ITV bosses for making one major change to their casting.
Roberts entered the jungle in 2016 – five days after everyone else – and starred alongside the likes of Adam Thomas, Joel Dommett, Ola Jordan and eventual winner Scarlett Moffat.
The 61-year-old took part in seven Bushtucker Trials and took home an impressive 24 out of a possible 29 stars for his campmates.
During this year’s series, there have been no arguments and a pretty harmonious group of people who have only wanted the best for one another and to be genuine friends.
Roberts recently sat down with GB News to discuss the casting from ITV this year, leaving him to praise bosses for making the change to have no “aggressive” stars.
He explained: “I think the cast are a really nice cast, I think clearly, they were picked to be non-confrontational.
“I don’t think there is anybody in there who is ever going to be opinionated that they were going to have an argument with somebody.
“They’re all strong characters but I don’t think they’re obnoxious characters, they’re not antagonists and I think in the past they throw in a few people who are going to cause a ruckus because it makes good telly.
“I think probably they decided there’s enough bad news and aggression that we don’t need to watch an hour of people arguing with one another.
“I think they made the right choice. There have been years where I thought, ‘God I would not have wanted to be in that group’.
“I’m grateful that I had my year when you know for the most part it was a really amazing group and I feel the same about this year. I could have happily gone into this group and had a good time.”
His verdict on the latest I’m A Celebrity line-up comes after he revealed how a brush with death two years ago has transformed his outlook on life, embracing a “no time to die” perspective.
The TV personality faced serious heart problems that brought him face-to-face with his own mortality.
Despite medical advice to slow down following his health scare, Roberts has instead accelerated his efforts to make a difference.
“The thought it could end so quickly made me desperate to do all I can because I don’t know how much longer I’ve got left.
“None of us do. I’ve been given this opportunity to change kids’ lives and I feel so privileged. I can’t understate the mental after-effects of what happened to me.
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“The physical stuff you get over, but it’s the overriding thought it could have all ended,” he revealed.
“Everything you tried to do, and your family, you realise it could all be gone,” he shared, reflecting on the profound impact of his health crisis.