JUNGLE SNUB Huge Emmerdale star admits she was ‘burned’ after being snubbed from I’m A Celeb line-up following health battle
The star claims a psych from ITV claimed she was unfit to take part in the show
EMMERDALE actress Gemma Oaten has revealed she was ‘burned’ by I’m A Celebrity after being snubbed from its lineup.
The soap star, 39, has admitted she was in with a chance of appearing on the ITV jungle show.
She left her role as Rachel Breckle in Emmerdale in 2015 and was approached by I’m A Celeb bosses the following year.
Gemma was placed on the reality show’s ‘reserve’ list – something that’s compiled each year in case a bigger star pulls out at the last minute.
However, after being assessed by an ITV psych, Gemma was deemed unfit to participate.
Speaking to Scott McGlynn’s Celebrity Skin Talk podcast, the actress explained: “Unfortunately, what happens you all have to go through like psych tests and stuff.
“And I had this interview with this psychiatrist who said that if I went into the jungle and lost weight, I would become anorexic again.
“And I was like ‘Um no, that’s not how it works’.”
Gemma suffered from anorexia and bulimia but is now the patron and charity manager of SEED, a support service launched by her parents Dennis and Marg to help families dealing with eating disorders.
The star continued: “I just felt like l’d been discriminated against because l’d gone through something that was painful, but actually I’m probably one of the most resilient people you’ll ever meet and I’ve been damn good in the jungle, But that was like, that was eight years ago.
“I think the conversation on mental health is is a lot different now, And people are a lot more like open to that but yeah I was quite burned by that. I’m not gonna lie I’ve never told this story before.”
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