Zara McDermott has revealed the reason she won't be heading to Australia to greet boyfriend Sam Thompson when he exits the I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! jungle.
Sam's best friend, TOWIE star Pete Wicks, will be the one waiting for Sam at the end of the iconic rope bridge, and Zara has explained why.
The Love Island star took to Instagram on Wednesday night to answer questions from her 1.8million followers.
When one asked: "How come you're not heading into the jungle to greet Sam?" Zara responded: "Pete is going. We've had a few laughs and jokes about this.
"But in all seriousness; Sam thought I was still going to be in Strictly (bless him, the optimism ), so Pete cleared his whole diary for 2/3 weeks to be there."
The 26 year old added: "I also have had to rush back to work as soon as Strictly finished to finish two of my documentaries before Xmas which I am currently abroad filming now. & we also have training for our final Strictly number.
"So it was a bit impossible to clear everything but Sam was so excited by the idea of Pete being there anyway that he was happy for me to be waiting for him back at base.
"I'm obviously a bit sad not to be there though. But I am throwing a huge party for all our family & friends on the final night (keeping fingers crossed he's in it!!! so I'm in charge of hosting everyone at home!"
On Friday's Lorraine, Pete, 35, confirmed Sam, 31, put him forward for the honour of greeting him in the jungle when he leaves camp, and he's sticking to the original plan.
Host Lorraine Kelly asked Pete: "You're going to be going out, you're going to be at the end of the bridge?"
Pete replied: "To be honest, I think ITV are sending me out there to protect Ant and Dec for when he comes out, because his obsession is real.
"I think it's the main reason he's done the show to be honest with you, just to get close to them, so I think I'm out there for protection."
Pete then jokingly snubbed Zara himself by adding: "Zara could have gone but we obviously thought Zara was still going to be in Strictly. Obviously now she could have gone, but I won't give up my place. Listen, first come, first served."
Sam and Pete were seen in the Strictly Come Dancing audience supporting Zara before her exit from the BBC show by wearing matching shirts printed with a motif of her face.
The best mates met while filming Celebs Go Dating in 2018 and co-host podcast Staying Relevant, as well as having taken part in The Circle together.
Pete admitted to Lorraine: "I really miss him. I didn't think I would, because he really annoys me, but what I've realised is that I do need that in my life and he's my brother and I do miss him."
Asked about Sam's blossoming friendship with JLS star Marvin Humes in I'm A Celeb, Pete said: "I'll be honest with you Lorraine, that's a holiday romance. It won't last. He knows which side his bread is buttered."
I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues every night at 9pm on ITV
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