Jamie Lomas shares heartbreak over friend’s death during I’m A Celeb stint
The Hollyoaks actor also described the show’s bullying claims as “absolute nonsense”.
Jamie Lomas has revealed that one of his close friends died during his stint on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, but that he did not hear the news until after the show ended.
The Hollyoaks star entered the programme in November and was in the jungle until the final last Sunday, but was not told that his friend, sports agent Gary Lloyd, had died until three weeks later.
Lomas told ITV’s Loose Women: “One of my close friends passed away the day that I went into the jungle and he was a top, top man.
“They tried to contact me in the jungle but because he isn’t immediate family they can’t let you know and it’s his funeral on Wednesday – Gary Lloyd, he’s a great guy.”
He added: “Do you know how I found out? I came out of the jungle and there was this WhatsApp group called ‘Gary Lloyd tribute’ and he was a bit of a wind-up, so I thought it was just a wind-up.
“These messages just kept coming through and I went on it, and it was heartbreaking. I just started reading it and it dawned upon me what had happened.”
Asked if he would have still taken part in the programme had he known of Mr Lloyd’s death, Lomas said: “I can’t answer that.”
The soap star, who came in second place behind winner Georgia Toffolo, also refuted claims of bullying on the show.
Responding to reports that he and some of his campmates had bullied comedian Iain Lee in the jungle, Lomas said: “It’s absolute nonsense.
“You’re just seeing an hour a day, edited. We’re in there 24 hours a day.
“People are entitled to have an opinion and Iain’s come out and rubbished the rumours. It needs to move on from that now.”
He added: “I just wish it would go away now, bullying is such a strong word.”
