Dec Donnelly receives medical attention after rare jumping spider bite on ITV I’m A Celebrity

Ant and Dec

Dec Donnelly had to receive medical attention after being bitten by a spider on I'm A Celebrity

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Olivia Gantzer

By Olivia Gantzer


Published: 03/12/2024

- 17:18

The presenter was checked backstage following the frightening spider bite

Ant and Dec are busy fronting the current series of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here at the moment, with the pair usually witnessing the jungle drama but not being part of it.

However, Dec Donnelly, 49, had to seek medical advice during Monday's show after he was bitten by a jumping spider in a rare incident.


The host was bitten on the neck by a jumping spider while presenting in the Australian jungle, with medics quickly stepping in to check on him.

He revealed professionals had to take a look backstage to ensure the spider hadn’t been poisonous.

Donnelly made the frightening revelation during a chat on the duo’s Instagram live chat with fans.

Ant McPartlin shared with the social media users: “We’ve had quite a lot of drama not only on the show, but off the show as well, because Dec had a spider on his neck and was bitten by a spider and the medic was called in to have a look.”

Donnelly went on to share a snap of the spider in question, detailing how the arachnid had jumped onto his script before proceeding to bite his neck.

The Geordie presenter didn't take long to make a joke out the incident, telling fans: “The medic said I was lucky to be alive.

“If I wasn't so fit and healthy and masculine, I might not have survived.”

"No, she didn't, she said it was a jumping spider and it was absolutely fine,” McPartlin commented.

Ant and Dec

Ant and Dec have hosted ITV's I'm a Celebrity since 2002

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Jumping spider bites are rare, experts report, but not venomous, usually just causing redness, itching and stinging.

The presenters have hosted the show since 2002, with medics always on-hand for similar instances.

Monday's show saw Tulisa Contostavlos become the latest famous face to leave the jungle.

The 36-year-old is the third to leave after Jane Moore and Dean McCullough, but it was Tulisa and Oti Mabuse in tonight's bottom two, which sparked a "sexism row" online.

As she made her exit, she joked: "Someone get me pizza!"

When the presenters asked how she was feeling, she admitted: "Good, I'm not going to lie it is tough in there, so leaving is a happy thing."

Tulisa

Tulisa was eliminated on Monday's I'm A Celebrity

ITV

Donnelly pointed out the rapper had dispensed a lot of advice to her campmates during their vulnerable moments over 17 days in camp.

"You bonded really quickly this year," he pointed out.

"You were all so open with one another, it was wonderful to watch," McPartlin agreed.

"Yeah, we were very vulnerable with each other right from the start," Tulisa noted.

When asked who she'd like to see crowned winner, she replied: "Oti to win. She's my earth angel in there man, she’s like my rock, one of the most beautiful humans I’ve ever met in my life."

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