Stephen K. Amos became the seventh celebrity eliminated from I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here 2024; and for the comedian who has spent his career building an on-stage persona, the Jungle unexpectedly became a place where he could truly be himself.

During a particularly poignant episode, Stephen revealed that his mother had never truly accepted his sexuality until she was on her deathbed.

Now, speaking to Chattr after his April 17 elimination, Stephen admitted that he “never in a million years” thought he would share such personal information on National television.

“I’m a man of a certain age and I’ve never said these things in an interview,” he said, adding he’d never said it on any TV program either.

“It was just that the moment was right,” he said. “It was a safe space. There were people that were respectful and who asked me questions and I knew they were just going to listen.”

He continued: “I would implore any of us if you can, find a moment where you can just pull back, strip away everything and go away for a retreat somewhere…and just have time for yourself. That is what this experience gave to me.”

Even though he’s had decades of on-stage experience, the seasoned performer had never been in a position to do reality TV — and when I’m a Celebrity came calling, he realised he’d have to drop his facade.

“When you go into a situation where there are 12 people and different personalities, you have a choice — either present yourself as who you are, and see it through, or develop a character that you want other people to see.

“But can you maintain that? I knew I couldn’t because that’s not what I do. And to be able to be free, I knew that I wasn’t going to be judged by my fellow campmates.

“If anything, they encouraged me to get my legs out, to get my arms out, to embrace my body, to embrace the fact that I hadn’t been taught how to swim.”

Stephen K. Amos reveals why he never learned to swim

One of the more enchanting moments of the 56-year-old’s experience in the Jungle was when he promised himself that he’d swim to the waterfall and back by the time he’d left camp.

Then, taught by Paralympian swimmer Ellie Cole and cheered on by celebrity chef Khanh Ong, he achieved the goal, becoming one of the most heartwarming moments of the series.

“It was like everything was aligned,” he said. “I had no desire, no reason to learn how to swim. But when you’ve got someone like Ellie in your camp, you’d be a fool not to.”

Stephen also revealed his irrational “fear of the great expanse that is the sea”, saying he “may have died on the Titanic” in a previous life…or maybe it was because he’d always lived in the inner city of London.

“The only time we had swimming lessons was when I was in primary school, when we went to the local spring baths, to have some lessons…It was never a priority. So for me, I didn’t bother with them. And then I developed a fear.”

Of course, swimming wasn’t the only lesson Stephen learned on I’m a Celebrity, pointing to the bevy of incredible moments.

“For me, the best part of being in the jungle was being vulnerable and honest,” he said. “It was to be heard and to listen to others.”

Watch I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here from Sunday – Thursday at 7.30 pm on 10 and 10Play.

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