ITV I'm A Celebrity update as Tommy Fury 'pulls out of show at the last minute'

Former Love Island contestant Tommy Fury has reportedly turned down the chance to join the 2024 series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

It's believed that Tyson Fury's younger brother has been tempted away by a more attractive offer, choosing to step back into the boxing ring for a rematch with KSI rather than venture into the Australian jungle alongside celebrities such as Coleen Rooney. The boxer, who recently ended his engagement with Molly-Mae Hague, had been in talks with ITV reality show producers before opting out, despite the show's launch date looming, reports the Mirror.

A TV insider expressed their surprise at Tommy's decision to withdraw from I'm A Celebrity, noting it would have been an excellent platform for him. They told The Sun: "Bosses are surprised Tommy has pulled out of I'm A Celebrity at this late stage as it would have been a great opportunity for him."

However, they remain hopeful, adding: "Thankfully, execs already had some great names waiting in the wings so they'll be looking at which ones fit best into the line-up already booked so they can deliver a truly great series."

Just days after Tommy evaded questions about his potential appearance in the jungle, he gave a non-committal response on Heart Breakfast last week. When pressed about joining the star-studded reality show, he said: "Listen a lot of things in my life is like a rollercoaster in a minute. There are so many things I might do. You know, could he be doing this? Could he be doing that? To be honest with you, I don't know what I'm doing this afternoon. I mean, I just take literally an hour at a time, so I don't know. There's a lot of things going on in my life right now. So, I'm not sure on anything."

Amanda Holden, host of Heart Breakfast, commented on Tommy's possible participation, voicing her worry about his nutritional intake: "I mean, it would be a brilliant one to do but I would worry about the lack of protein in there. You'd come out a bit deflated, like the Michelin but not the Michelin Man by the end of it."

ITV bosses had high hopes that Tommy would boost their show's viewership, especially as they expected him to reveal details about his sensational split from Molly-Mae.

The couple, who rose to fame on Love Island's fifth series, moved in together, welcomed a baby in January last year, and even got engaged. However, they dashed fans' hopes this summer when they announced their separation after a five-year intense relationship, amid cheating speculations.

Speculation was rife that Tommy might open up around the campfire, alongside other celebrities, and divulge the real story behind his split with his former flame.

A source had earlier revealed to The Sun: "Tommy is a great name as a potential campmate as he's already known to the ITV audience and he'd be brilliant in the Bushtucker Trials. Bosses are talking with lots of celebrities ahead of the new series and are determined to make this year's line-up one of the best."

They added: "They also know that the superfit boxer is likely to be a prime candidate for the annual hunk-in-the-jungle shower scenes."

However, it seems those plans have been dashed, with Tommy opting to focus on his boxing career rather than battling for stars on the reality show.