I'm A Celebrity star GK Barry smiling at event
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I’m A Celebrity: GK Barry on tonsillitis that left her feeling like she was ‘on the verge of death’

Yet, she's determined to ace the trials...

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GK Barry endured quite a lot with her health before entering the I’m A Celebrity jungle. She is one of the celebrity contestants on the 2024 series.

The Loose Women star has been vocal about her struggles. GK Barry – real name Grace Keeling – said she looks forward to a “relaxing couple of weeks” in the jungle… (she might be backtracking on that now!).

But the influencer struggled with health issues ahead of her stint in I’m A Celebrity. In an interview, she admitted to feeling as if she was “on the verge of death”.

GK Barry and Jane Moore after Bushtucker trial on I'm A Celebrity 2024
GK Barris on I’m A Celeb alongside fellow Loose Woman Jane Moore (Credit: ITV/YouTube)

GK Barry on I’m A Celebrity

The Loose Women star is determined to ace the Bushtucker trials despite health struggles in the days leading up to her appearance on I’m A Celebrity. She was faced with not just one, but two issues that left her severely sick.

She said that she was suffering from tonsillitis, so she had to take antibiotics to reduce the symptoms. The TikTok star sought medical help after noticing puss down her throat.

Recollecting her health struggle, GK Barry said on her podcast Saving Grace: “I’ve been so ill to the point where my manager got me a drip. Have you ever heard anything like it? It’s giving LA. She said, ‘This is enough now you’re actually on the verge of death.'”

GK Barry in I'm A Celebrity 2024 promo pic
GK Barry has headed into the jungle this year… (Credit: ITV)

Just when she thought the meds would cure her throat, the star experienced gut problems. She was due to go live on Loose Women.

Her concerned manager suggested an IV drip to get her back on track, but it didn’t work as expected.

GK Barry shared that the drip only made her sleep. “I thought I’d get the drip and be like, ‘Let’s do the London marathon,’ we did the drip and I went for a nap. How does that work? So yeah I wouldn’t suggest it,” she said.

Her manager also encouraged her to eat well before entering the jungle because the restricted diet of 600 calories wouldn’t sustain her through the challenging trials.

I’m A Celebrity cast

GK Barry admitted she would be a “good viewing” because of her long list of phobias. One trial is all it took for it to come true.

I’m A Celebrity started on ITV1 yesterday and fans were thoroughly amused with the TikTok star’s scared behaviour. So much so, that many said GK Barry won the Bushtucker Trial ‘season ticket’.

Tonight (November 18), she’ll face her first solo Bushtucker trial – Vile Volcano.

I’m A Celebrity airs every night at 9pm on ITV1. 

Read more: Jane Moore reveals her daughter fears she’ll get ‘cancelled’ on I’m A Celebrity

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