Vogue Williams is preparing to make her long-anticipated entrance into the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! jungle — but there’s one familiar face viewers shouldn’t expect to see waiting for her at the end of the iconic rope bridge. Her husband, Spencer Matthews, will not be traveling to Australia to support her this year, despite their usual tradition of being present for each other’s reality-TV milestones.

Although ITV has remained tight-lipped about the exact moment Vogue and fellow late arrival Tom Read Wilson will parachute into camp, insiders say the pair are expected to “shake up the dynamic immediately” (source: The Guardian). With eliminations looming and celebrities preparing for the emotional bridge walk that signals their exit, many fans assumed Spencer would fly out as soon as his wife entered the show. But this time, Vogue will have to make that walk without him.

Vogue Williams steps into the jungle

The 40-year-old presenter and podcaster is hardly new to adventure-based television. She previously took part in Bear Grylls’ Mission Survive in 2015 — and ultimately won the series (source: BBC). In 2017, she appeared on Channel 4’s The Jump, a notoriously challenging winter-sports reality show. Her journey ended prematurely due to injury, but the experience proved life-changing: it was on The Jump that she met her future husband, Spencer Matthews.

The couple married in 2018 and now share three children — Theodore, seven; Gigi, five; and Otto, three. Balancing jungle life and parenthood won’t be easy, and last week Spencer hinted at Vogue’s upcoming adventure during an interview on Good Morning Britain. Smiling, he said: “I know nothing about these things!” before admitting the pair would need “a lot of help with childcare” (source: ITV News). His playful denial only fueled speculation that Vogue was already en route to Australia.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Vogue shared why she chose to take on such an intense challenge at this stage of her life. “I’m too comfortable in life,” she said. “You have to push yourself outside your comfort zone, especially when you turn 40. I’ve started getting stuck in my ways.” She added that she wanted something to “jolt [her] back” into a more adventurous mindset.

Why Spencer Matthews won’t be by her side

Spencer Matthews, a former Made in Chelsea star, knows the jungle environment better than most spouses of contestants. He joined I’m A Celebrity as a late arrival in 2015 but left just two days later. ITV initially cited “medical reasons,” though it was later revealed he had been taking steroids for a charity boxing match and had not disclosed this to producers. Spencer later called the decision a “serious error of judgment” (source: The Independent).

This year, however, it isn’t controversy keeping him away — it’s an extreme and highly ambitious physical challenge. Spencer is currently attempting to complete seven full Ironman triathlons on seven continents in just 21 days, a feat that would set a new Guinness World Record if successful (source: BBC Sport).

He has already finished two Ironman races and is currently in Cape Town completing his third, with Perth scheduled to follow. The endeavor is a major undertaking both physically and logistically, requiring constant travel and rigorous recovery periods.

His mission is also deeply personal. Spencer is raising money for James’ Place UK, an organization that provides free, life-saving therapeutic support for men experiencing suicidal crises in London, the North East, and the North West — a cause he has passionately supported since the loss of his older brother James during an Everest expedition in 1999 (source: The Times).

Who will greet Vogue at the bridge?

With Spencer halfway around the world, Vogue’s much-anticipated jungle exit will likely be met by a close friend or family member — possibly one already drafted in to help with childcare during her time away. ITV has not confirmed who will step into the role, but producers traditionally allow contestants to choose the person they most want by their side during the emotional moment.

One thing is certain: while Vogue tackles creepy-crawlies, Bushtucker Trials, and the unpredictability of camp life, Spencer will be conquering a series of punishing triathlons across the globe. Though physically apart, both are taking on challenges that demand grit, resilience, and courage — making this a pivotal moment for the Matthews-Williams family.