Like her or loathe her, GK Barry is I’m A Celebrity’s best hope-Danni Scott-Entertainment – Metro

GK Barry could save I’m A Celebrity (Picture: Rich Lowe/ITV/Shutterstock)

I’m A Celebrity has finally kicked off for 2024 and this year’s campmates provided one of the best opening episodes the show has seen in a long time.

From Wagatha Christie jibes to Danny Jones’ enormous trouser snake, the ITV show appears to be back on top form after some dwindling figures.

As always, there have been cries of ‘Who are they?’ as some viewers declare campmates are not famous enough to be in the jungle, mainly aimed at internet star GK Barry.

GK, real name Grace Keeling, quickly took centre stage with jokes about sausage parties and her cinematic mascara-streaked face after a tearful challenge.

Her dramatic response to the very first trial may have split opinions online but the 25-year-old Loose Women star is exactly what the show needs right now.

She’s already creating a stir on the ITV show (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Grace’s mascara-drenched antics quickly went viral (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

I’m A Celeb has been suffering in recent years under the weight of controversial campmates who viewers felt were using ITV to mend public opinion.

Last year, ITV lost over 2million viewers after huge backlash to Nigel Farage’s appearance on the show following Matt Hancock’s the year before.

After two years of heavy criticism, I’m A Celeb desperately needed campmates who viewers felt were authentic rather than scandal-ridden politicians – reportedly banning any MPs from signing up.

Enter Grace, who rose to fame on TikTok during the pandemic thanks to her self-deprecating sense of humour and total lack of filter.

Four years later, she has 3.6million followers on the platform and her own Saving Grace podcast which has had Alison Hammond, Alan Carr and Katie Price as guests.

Viewers were very opinionated about her tears (Picture: Rich Lowe/ITV/Shutterstock)

Loose Women fans will recognise the TikTok panelist (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Grace was also hotly tipped to go on Strictly this year, having made no secret about wanting to break into TV when she spoke to Metro earlier this year.

When sharing her hopes for the future, she joked: ‘In 10 years time, I hopefully will still have perky tits and I will be on the telly. Hopefully, I’ll still be blonde and my hair hasn’t snapped off.

‘Just alive will do actually, so the bar is on the floor. TV is a whole new audience that I can reach and hopefully, they don’t hate me.’

Her honesty is proving popular with some as bookies have her as second most likely to win behind McFly icon Danny after she was voted to do the first Bushtucker Trial.

Whether you found her screams as she tried to find keys among cockroaches endearing or irritating, those shots of her mascara-soaked face are TV gold.

We know by now in the early episodes it is the people crying and making a fuss who get voted for trials and so get more screen time and generally last longer in the jungle.

Just look at Gemma Collins in 2014 with her iconic helicopter meltdown, nearly quitting on day one – a moment that has gone down in history.

Brits can pretend they want someone to do well in the Bushtucker Trials but it’s a lie; we want the drama and the spectacle that Grace is giving us.

YouTuber Nella Rose found early popularity for the exact same reasons last year, however, the public turned on her after a handful of arguments with other campmates.

Even Ant and Dec couldn’t resist teasing the TikTok star (Picture: X/antanddec)

Nella, 27, was frequently accused of taking herself too seriously thus creating friction with the likes of Fred Sirieux, ultimately causing her to be voted out.

This is where Grace might act differently as the podcast host has built her entire career on a willingness to laugh at herself (and her ‘flat bum’).

She’s already had her fair share of controversy outside of the show with her Bonnie Blue interview, which reportedly sparked a crisis for ITV bosses. Yet she’s come out of the debacle unscathed thanks to her undeniable charm.

Those who take themselves too seriously don’t make good TV unless they’re getting into spats with campmates, which gets tiring quickly.

Grace could be the breath of fresh air I’m A Celebrity needed (Picture: Rich Lowe/ITV/Shutterstock)

Think about last year’s winner Sam Thompson, he sailed through by being 100% authentic and irresistibly enthusiastic, even when he was struggling in a trial.

While screaming and crying have a tendency to grate after a while, Grace has instantly proven she can bring drama and comedy to the slightly stale show.

The TikToker is prime for the classic redemption arc; an emotional wreck while the trials don’t matter who will overcome her fears and win over the public when they do. That’s just good television.

Who cares if you didn’t know TikTok sensation GK Barry before? You’re going to get to know Grace now and admit it, you’re already charmed.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here airs at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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