This is what the I'm A Celeb campmates looked like when they were younger - The Tab

We’re well into I’m A Celeb now, and in the last few days we’ve certainly been treated to some of the more gruesome trials. Whether it’s been drinking gruesome penis smoothies or being covered with all kinds of bugs on a massage bed, they’ve had it rough – but did you know that all these celebrities were in fact still celebrities before appearing on the show?!

Yup, I know it’s hard to believe with a few of the names in the castle, but they all actually had very successful lives beforehand in one way or another, which thankfully means that there’s plenty of photos of them from their formative years for us to laugh at. So, we’ve sifted through the best ones and here’s what the campmates of I’m A Celebrity looked like in their younger years.

Vernon Kay

Vernon has always been a heartthrob, it’s just that he had a quiet few years before coming back into the limelight on I’m A Celeb – but now he’s back, there’s a whole new generation lusting after him. In the above picture, we can see Vernon on a television program in 2001, making him 27 at the time.

Found this pic while clearing out our old offices, probably circa 2005. Loving the mop top @vernonkay! #ThrowbackFriday pic.twitter.com/n6G2PM7s7z

— Stewart Golf (@StewartGolf) June 23, 2017

You know which celebrity is the perfect pick to advertise a high-end golf machine? You guessed it, Vernon Kay. The Stewart Golf website still has a page dedicated to him, which reads: “He’s also been a big fan of Stewart Golf since he took delivery of his first machine back in 2005, and knows personally how much the company has evolved in the past years.

“Vernon later went on to add: ‘It knows where you are. It knows where to stop. It can make you feel relaxed because you don’t have to worry about your golf clubs.'”

Great stuff, Vernon.

Beverley Callard

Don’t miss Coronation Street Icons: Liz McDonald tonight at 8:30pm ITV. Looking back at @Beverleycallard’s time on the cobbles! #Corrie @itvcorrie pic.twitter.com/rFaqf3iNLm

— Coronation Street @ 60 (@corrieweekly) September 9, 2020

Queen Beverley is known for being THE most wholesome woman in the camp (sorry Gi, you’re simply no match) and it’s fair to say she’s aged little since her days of playing Liz McDonald in Corrie.

I’d like to personally recommend she brings that hairdo out of retirement, anyone else?

Shane Richie

Just found a picture of Shane Richie in my customers house, hair do hasn't changed much but look how young he looks😂 pic.twitter.com/gJlGQuU3Z6

— danny laws (@lawsey09) January 7, 2016

Shane has become a bit of a controversial figure in the camp after he was recorded saying a few choice comments to Vernon about other campmates out of earshot of anyone else, but you’ve got to admit – the guy is funny, and he’s a bit of a veteran in the industry.

From March 1996 Inside TV features Band of Gold, The Shane Richie Experience, Father Ted, Beadle's About, Crufts!📺 pic.twitter.com/9VmWAoh09U

— Graeme Wood (@woodg31) March 12, 2015

From recording his own albums to being part of Eastenders, Richie is showbiz through and through – as evidenced by this lovely magazine cover of him wearing far too much makeup.

Mo Farah

@Mo_Farah when was young, with a turricardias spanish. pic.twitter.com/WoYFmW7OBC

— Narciso J. Ibáñez (@ibaneznj) August 29, 2013

Okay, so from this we can immediately learn that young Mo Farah was a whole vibe. Seriously, look at this guy and tell me he doesn’t look cool, from the fancy hairdo down to the trousers that you know make that “swish” noise when he walks.

@Mo_Farah – Potchefsroom young guys pic.twitter.com/HnzcEdeNAC

— Kim Godtfredsen (@KimGodtfredsen) August 10, 2015

Icon.

Victoria Derbyshire

I have an #ImACeleb claim to fame 🤣. Victoria Derbyshire was a colleague when I worked at BBC CWR in Coventry back in 1993. So I’ll be supporting #TeamVic pic.twitter.com/kBBdosxQNd

— Kieran McGeary (@kieranmcgeary) November 15, 2020

Victoria has made a really good impression on so many people in the camp – she’s clearly very intelligent, has good morals and is all-round great fun. In fact, if I were to vote for a winner now, she’d likely be my pick, and from her photos, it looks like not a lot has changed.

AJ Pritchard

Credit Instagram @aj11ace

AJ shared the above photo on Instagram when wishing his brother Curtis a happy birthday, and it’s quite extraordinary how little either of them has changed.

Of all the haircuts that have changed over the years, be it Vernon’s mullet-esque mop or Mo’s mini dreads, these probably have to be the least partyrockin’. Sorry lads.

Giovanna Fletcher

16 years of adulthood with this one by my side. 21years ago (at 13) we met in school assembly at Sylvia Young Theatre School. This was our first conversation:
Tom: ‘What’s your name?’
Me: ‘Giovanna, but you can call me Gi.’
Tom: ‘My name’s Tom but you c… https://t.co/1ohuLLEkJz pic.twitter.com/GhJIzL95eA

— Giovanna Fletcher (@MrsGiFletcher) October 22, 2019

Being a blogger, vlogger and wife to Tom Fletcher means that you’re going to be sharing a lot of your personal life on the internet, so it’s good to see that there’s plenty of photos to choose from when it comes to Giovanna Fletcher. The above photo is a cute collage showing various moments in their relationship, with the bottom left looking like the youngest example.

tom fletcher e giovanna fletcher com o povo de high school musical pic.twitter.com/RwjvXRU8vr

— 𝓰𝓻𝓪𝔃𝓲 (@peaceyoons) November 23, 2013

If we’re talking about cursed photos, why has nobody ever brought this one to light? This is a cross over that nobody could’ve expected. Or wanted.

Jordan North

We can presume from this photo that Jordan is in his late teens or early 20s, which means this photo was taken around 10 years ago – it’s safe to say that he looks a lot better with the beard than without.

Russell Watson

Russell Watson @russellthevoice is performing live + signing his new album 'True Stories'. Tomorrow Friday 4th November. pic.twitter.com/A2BSqwScit

— hmv Manchester (@hmvManchester) November 3, 2016

You only need to look at Russell’s various album covers to see what he looked like in his younger years, and from the above photo you can see that he looks mostly the same apart from the facial fuzz that he’s grown in the castle. He actually doesn’t look too dissimilar from Dec you know. Or H from Steps.

Russell Watson is giving me serious Ostreicher vibes. #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/EtHK0ws9pX

— David Clarke (@__DaveClarke) November 20, 2020

SCRATCH THAT.

Ruthie Henshall

Amazing that one of our MYTS is learning musical theatre from @JohnBarrUK, who starred in the 1994 London production of Godspell with Stephen Schwartz (composer) John Barrowman, Darren Day and Ruthie Henshall! What a small world! #Stafford #godspell #WDYT #staffordshiretheatre pic.twitter.com/6krFX4nMUJ

— MYTS (@myts_stafford) July 9, 2019

This is a glorious photo, not only because it shows us what Ruthie looked like 26 years ago (much the same to be honest), but there are also a few other familiar faces. John Barrowman in that very fetching pink cardigan, or how about Clive Rowe who played Duke in Tracy Beaker on the right?

#ThrowbackThursday Pictured with the delightful Ruthie Henshall @ChichesterFT in July 1997 where we were appearing in Divorce Me Darling! pic.twitter.com/68ICZek32i

— Scott Ritchie – Theatre Producer (@s_rproductions) May 25, 2017

Bringing it forward a little to 1997 shows that Ruthie is looking as good as ever in the camp.

Hollie Arnold MBE

Hollie Arnold MBE is only 26 so it’s no surprise that she hasn’t changed hugely in the years leading up to I’m A Celeb, but if there’s anything we appreciate from someone in their mid-twenties, it’s finding horribly outdated Instagram edits like the one above.

#imacelebrity Hollie Arnold MBE youngest ever field athlete to ever compete in the Paralympics/Olympics, at age 13 at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing throwing a personal best. GOLD medalist in the F46 javelin in the 2016Paralympics at Rio, throwing a new world record. 👊 pic.twitter.com/WqQx0PFeKk

— Clare (@ClareE_D) November 15, 2020

We all gave her a bit of a rinsing over the MBE thing, but there’s probably not a lot of people in the camp more deserving of that accolade – competing at the Paralympics at the age of 13 and then getting a world record eight years later.

Jessica Plummer

You know what, Neon Jungle were so slept on.
They did some absolute bangers like Braveheart, Trouble and Louder. pic.twitter.com/uOz41EDMo2

— River Song (@MegReeves93) November 15, 2020

Jessica Plummer, in case you missed it, was part of a band called Neon Jungle. She became part of the band after her and another member were scouted to sing in the girl group WHILE SHOPPING, which I think says all you need to know.

#TeenChoice #ChoiceMusicBreakoutArtist neon jungle
Jess selfies are the best pic.twitter.com/99G4e5H82J

— مارلين | هبد شايدي (@90sSivan) May 31, 2015

Again, not much has changed in those 5 or so years since being in the band that still gets 200k+ listens on Spotify. Good for you, Jess from Neon Jungle.