Declan Donnelly, co-host of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, was bitten by a jumping spider on the neck while filming in the Australian jungle. The incident occurred off-camera, prompting medics to rush backstage to ensure the bite was not venomous. Ant McPartlin, his presenting partner, shared details during an Instagram Live session, explaining that the spider had jumped from a script onto Donnelly’s neck. McPartlin noted, “We’ve had quite a lot of drama not only on the show but off the show as well because Dec had a spider on his neck and was bitten by a spider and the medic was called in to have a look.”
Donnelly, 49, jokingly remarked, “The medic said I was lucky to be alive. If I wasn’t so fit and healthy, and masculine, I might not have survived,” though McPartlin clarified the medic confirmed it was a non-venomous jumping spider, causing only minor symptoms like redness or itching. Jumping spiders, common in Australia among its 10,000 spider species, are known for their agility but are not dangerous.
This wasn’t the only medical incident on set; medics previously assisted Tulisa Contostavlos during a Bushtucker Trial when she feared an insect was in her ear, and a crew member was hospitalized for stitches after a fall. The show, aired daily at 9pm on ITV, has faced other challenges this season, including Ofcom complaints over the hosts’ comments and reports of trench foot among campmates due to wet conditions.
Ant and Dec shared a statement on an Instagram Live
Declan Donnelly, famously known as Dec, of the presenting duo Ant and Dec, experienced a close encounter with the local wildlife while filming I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in the Australian jungle after being bitten by a spider.
The 49-year-old was swiftly attended to by medics backstage at the ITV show to ensure that the arachnid hadn’t injected any venom.
Fortunately for Dec and fans of the show, jumping spider bites, although infrequent, aren’t dangerous and do not contain venom. Symptoms can, however, include minor redness, irritation, stinging or swelling.
Fortunately for Dec and fans of the show, jumping spider bites, although infrequent, aren’t dangerous and do not contain venom. Symptoms can, however, include minor redness, irritation, stinging or swelling.
Known for their extraordinary leaping abilities, jumping spiders can vault 10 to 40 times their body length. They are just one among approximately 10,000 species of spiders found throughout Australia.
This isn’t the first time medical intervention has been needed on the set this year; medics previously made a dash to help Tulisa Contostavlos during a trial, though the incident wasn’t broadcast.
N-Dubz star Tulisa was left frantic during a trial when she believed a bug had crawled into her ear, prompting medics to rush to her aid.
A source revealed to The Sun: “Mid-way through the trial, the show medics rushed in to help. Tulisa was convinced something was in her ear, she wasn’t sure if it was a cockroach, cricket, or fly and had to have a syringe wash. She carried on after that, but she was horrified.”
In other camp news, Dean McCullough has alleged that a bout of trench foot is sweeping through the damp campsite.
