GK Barry braces for 'absolute hell' in ITV's I'm A Celeb jungle amidst podcast controversy

Social media queen GK Barry, famous for her hit podcast 'Saving Grace', is set to brave the wilds of the Australian jungle alongside a host of other celebrities including Maura Higgins and Coleen Rooney.

In an exclusive chat with the Mirror, she confessed her apprehensions about the gruesome challenges lying ahead, quipping that the jungle "looks like absolute hell".

However, Grace Keeling, known to fans as GK Barry, has found herself at the centre of controversy after airing a contentious episode with adult entertainer Bonnie Blue on her widely-heard podcast. Yet, undeterred by the recent uproar, Grace is eager to delve into the jungle experience, telling the Mirror candidly: "I hate bugs.

"I hate sleeping outside. I've never done it. And so I think that would be a lot. But I feel like it would also probably be good viewing for other people."

The Cambridge-born sensation, who sky-rocketed to fame with her 2020 TikTok debut, now boasts a staggering 3.6 million followers and a podcast audience of 1.5 million.

Despite the furore surrounding her interview with Bonnie Blue, who boasted of encounters with numerous "barely legal" men, Grace has removed the episode from her platform as she sets her sights on the upcoming jungle stint, clearly determined to leave any contention in her wake.

One social media user expressed alarm at the influencer's reach, stating: "Her audience is 13-20 year old girls. Young and impressionable. This is not the message young girls should be hearing. We need to start de-platforming."

The controversy has reportedly left ITV bosses reeling, with sources alleging to The Sun that '' is embroiled in an 'absolute PR nightmare', reports .

Among those set to join the 25 year old viral star are prestigious figures such as Coleen Rooney, dance sensation Oti Mabuse, boxing legend Barry McQuigan, and celebrated songstress Tulisa.

Sharing insights into her unexpected rise to fame, Grace revealed: "I called myself GK Barry because I didn't want people from school or university finding my videos. I was embarrassed about it at first."

Grace commented on the fickleness of public attention, saying, "It's ironic. When you're small, a lot of people will judge you for the content you are putting out. But as soon as you start getting bigger, all those people who judged you want to become your best friend."

Grace captured attention in August with her groundbreaking debut on 'Loose Women', positioning herself as one of the programme's youngest contributorsa remarkable feat, particularly as she was born in the same year the show commenced, 1999.

Despite speculation about a supposed "feud" with Frankie Bridge, she speaks highly of her fellow panellists, calling them the "nicest people ever."

She continues: "I never thought they'd have someone like me on there."

"I was incredibly nervous when I first started, thinking, 'What if my sense of humour falls flat? ' The audience is quite different from my podcast listeners, but the response has been fantastic, and everyone on the show is absolutely lovely."