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Jacqueline Jossa defends I’m A Celebrity campmate James Haskell after ‘bullying’ claims

She said she was "worried" about him

Jacqueline Jossa has defended her I’m A Celebrity campmate James Haskell after he was branded a “bully”.

During his time in the jungle, James angered viewers when he snapped at Kate Garraway and clashed with Andrew Maxwell over the Dingo Dollar questions.

Some viewers accused the former rugby player of “bullying” his campmates but Jacqueline insisted he was “amazing” in camp.

Jacqueline Jossa on Heart Breakfast radio
Jacqueline insisted James was “amazing” in camp (Credit: Heart)

Read more: I’m A Celebrity’s James Haskell and wife Chloe Madeley reveal they’re ‘ready for a baby’

She appeared on Heart Breakfast on Thursday morning and was asked who she will miss the most from the show.

The former EastEnders actress said: “Probably James Haskell. I was gutted when he went. It’s the only time when you think about what the audience are seeing.

I was worried he was coming across differently, because in there he done everything for everybody.

“I was worried he was coming across differently, because in there he done everything for everybody and he might have had a bit of a tough time coming out, I was worried they had only showed his bad bits.”

When host Amanda Holden suggested producers may have “tried to spin it a bit,” Jacqueline said: “He was amazing, ridiculously funny.

“I was like ‘maybe they’re not showing that’, it’s just very emotional in there.”

James’ wife Chloe Madeley also defended him after viewer backlash.

She said on Lorraine: “I think he just had a really grumpy day. And when you’re sleep deprived and food deprived and you’re surrounded by people who you aren’t necessarily friends with on the outside world, if you have a moody day you do kind of snap a bit.

“The B word is a little bit intense, I personally watched it and all I wanted to do was get in there and give him some food.”

During his exit interview, James spoke about being “ratty” towards his campmates.

James Haskell on I'm A Celebrity
James said he “can’t abide inefficiency” (Credit: ITV)

Read more: Extra Camp viewers ‘in tears’ over moment James Haskell met Caitlyn Jenner on bridge

He said: “I think I would have been ratty even if I was fully fed. The Dingo Dollar challenge is a 50/50 question with absolutely no background to it.

“Kate and Andrew wanted to have this outlandish debate, PowerPoint presentation, PDF, and the worst thing was I could sit by and let everybody talk about it but when we come to A or B people hadn’t voted.

“It might sound chippy but I just can’t abide inefficiency.”

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Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)