GAVIN and STACEY's JOANNA PAGE reveals why sitcom co-stars "will be shocked" she's on I'm a Celeb

Friday, November 13, 2026 - Joanna Page is preparing to swap her familiar television surroundings for the Australian jungle as she joins the 2026 series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! However, the actress has revealed that her former Gavin and Stacey co-stars were not expecting her to take on such a challenge.

The 49-year-old, best known for playing Stacey Shipman in the BBC comedy, admitted she had kept her decision to participate quiet. "They will be shocked when they find out," she revealed, adding that she knows they will also find the news hilarious because they know exactly what she is like.

Page also explained that her decision was driven by a desire to rediscover herself outside her busy family life. The mother of four, who is married to actor James Thornton, said she accepted the opportunity almost immediately because it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

She hopes the time away from everyday parenting responsibilities will give her an opportunity to reconnect with the person she was before becoming a mother. She also admitted that although she will initially enjoy having a break from school runs and constant demands, she might eventually miss her children. Page is equally determined to embrace the challenges and has expressed an ambition to become the first Welsh Queen of the Jungle.

Her announcement has already attracted attention from her former castmates, particularly Ruth Jones, who played Nessa Jenkins in Gavin and Stacey. Jones celebrated the news on Instagram with a hilarious message written in Nessa's unmistakable style, warning her former co-star about the jungle's notorious eating trials.

The 2026 line-up also features Wayne Rooney, Claire Sweeney, Ade Adepitan, Chloe Burrows and Ricky Wilson. With the new series scheduled to launch on ITV on November 16, viewers are eagerly waiting to see how Joanna handles the trials, camp life and unexpected jungle surprises. Her biggest challenge may be proving that there is much more to Stacey Shipman's famous actress than fans have seen on television.