Spencer Matthews Barred from I'm A Celebrity Jungle Over 2016 Steroid Scandal

When Vogue Williams stepped into the Australian jungle on November 19, 2025, as a latecomer on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!Australia, she did so with the usual mix of excitement and dread. But one person who wouldn’t be cheering her on from the sidelines? Her husband, Spencer Matthews. Not because they’re estranged. Not because he’s busy with the kids. But because he was kicked off the same show nearly a decade ago for steroid use — and the rules haven’t changed.

Why Spencer Matthews Can’t Return to the Jungle

Matthews, 37, was pulled from I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!Australia after just two days in 2016. He’d been secretly taking anabolic steroids to bulk up for a charity boxing match — a decision he later called a “serious error of judgement.” The show’s medical team, unaware at first, flagged elevated testosterone levels during routine screening. When confronted, Matthews admitted to using the drugs, and producers acted swiftly. “It was extremely hard to accept,” he told Cosmopolitan UK in November 2025. “But duty of care isn’t negotiable. Bags had to be packed.” That decision, made nearly a decade ago, still echoes. ITV’s internal protocols explicitly bar former contestants who were removed for health or safety violations from returning in any official capacity — including as supporters during the “Bushtucker Trials” or live broadcasts. So while Williams’ three children, Theodore, Gigi, and Otto, wave goodbye from the UK, and her friends text encouragement from home, Matthews is stuck watching from the couch — a silent, conflicted spectator.

A Marriage Forged in Recovery

Their relationship has weathered storms far more personal than reality TV. Matthews has been candid about his battle with alcohol addiction — a struggle that nearly tore them apart. “There was a certainty I would lose Vogue if I carried on drinking the way I was,” he confessed on the Everything I Know About Me podcast. Williams confirmed it on Elizabeth Day’s show: “He hit rock bottom. Not because I yelled, but because he looked in the mirror and didn’t like what he saw.” His turning point came in 2019. He quit drinking cold turkey, then launched CleanCo, an alcohol-free spirit brand. The business took off, but Matthews still drinks occasionally — a calculated risk he manages with discipline. “I feel instant regret even when I have one,” he said. “That’s why I don’t.” Their home now runs on quiet routines: no alcohol in the fridge, early bedtimes, and a shared commitment to stability. “We never want it,” Williams said of booze. “Not because we’re scared we’ll drink it — because we’ve moved on.”

The 2025 Lineup and the Jungle’s New Rules

This season’s cast includes rapper Aitch, former Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp, and broadcaster Ruby Wax. Williams and Tom Read Wilson, the Celebs Go Dating star, joined mid-season on November 19 — a rare move that signals ITV’s push to boost ratings after a dip in viewership last year. According to The Independent, the network is experimenting with “late arrivals” to extend narrative tension — and to give audiences a fresh emotional hook. But the show’s producers remain rigid on safety. In 2016, Matthews’ steroid use triggered a full review of medical protocols. Now, all contestants undergo mandatory pre-jungle blood tests and psychological screenings. Even minor health risks — like recent injuries or uncontrolled asthma — can lead to removal. Matthews’ case remains a cautionary tale referenced in every new contestant’s orientation.

What This Means for Reality TV Ethics

The situation raises uncomfortable questions: Should past mistakes permanently bar someone from returning — even as a supporter? Is it fair to punish a person’s younger self for a decision they’ve since corrected? Matthews, now a father of three and a sober entrepreneur, doesn’t ask for special treatment. “I made a dumb choice,” he said. “I own it. But I also rebuilt something better.” Still, the show’s producers aren’t budging. Their stance isn’t about judgment — it’s about precedent. If they let Matthews back in, what about others? A contestant who faked an injury? One who used a banned supplement? The line, however arbitrary, must be drawn somewhere. For Williams, the absence stings. “I wish he could be there,” she admitted on Instagram. “But I get it. He’s got his own journey. And mine? It’s time to walk it alone.”

What’s Next?

The 2025 season continues daily at 9pm GMT on ITV1 and ITVX. Williams’ resilience will be tested by bugs, sleep deprivation, and grueling challenges — but also by the quiet weight of her husband’s absence. Meanwhile, Matthews has quietly returned to his work with CleanCo and is reportedly mentoring young men struggling with addiction — a role he finds more meaningful than any reality show ever was.

Behind the Scenes: The Real Cost of Fame

Reality TV thrives on drama, but rarely shows the aftermath. Matthews’ story isn’t just about steroids or alcohol. It’s about redemption — messy, imperfect, and hard-won. He didn’t win the jungle. He didn’t even finish. But he walked away, faced his demons, and built something real. That’s the kind of story no camera can capture — and maybe, that’s the point.