'Where will the entertainment value come from now?' Celebrities react to Gemma Collins' shock I'm A Celebrity exit
She looked set to become this year's most entertaining camp mate before her shock decision to leave the Australian jungle after just 72 hours.
And celebrities and viewers alike are already mourning the premature loss of larger-than-life star Gemma Collins after it was revealed on Wednesday morning she had quit ITV2 reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
A host of stars including Gemma's TOWIE cast mates and jungle alumni Kian Egan have taken to Twitter to express their surprise at her departure, one of the show's speediest exits in its 12-year history.
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Emotional exit: Gemma Collins has stunned fans by walking out of the jungle after only lasting 72 hours on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
ITV presenter Eamonn Holmes summed up the thoughts of the nation when he lamented the fact that Gemma had left too soon.
He wrote: 'Gemma was a big presence and will be a big loss to @imacelebrity .... where will the entertainment value come from now ? (sic)'.
Aside from her hilarious one-liners, Gemma had so far proved to be TV gold, breaking down during a helicopter ride before she even reached the camp and throwing a hissy fit over her basic ration of rice and beans.
Incredulous: ITV presenter Eamonn Holmes was stunned to discover Gemma had left so soon
He's been there before: Last year's King of the Jungle Kian Egan was hoping the 33-year-old blonde was going to go the distance
Kind-hearted: 2013 I'm A Celeb star Rebecca Adlington expressed her well wishes for the 33-year-old blonde
Fan favourite: The TOWIE star's emotional meltdowns over jungle life and inability to cope with the basic rations had so far proved highly entertaining
The bubbly blonde's TOWIE pal Ferne McCann posted: 'Nooooo it can't be true @missgemcollins was too entertaining to leave!'
And last year's resident King of the Jungle, Westlife's Kian Egan, was also sorry to see her go.
He wrote: 'So Gemma Collins has left the jungle already! Such a shame. She was so great to watch in there.'
Supportive: Ferne McCann had been backing Gemma to win over the nation and make the final
'Lightweight': Phillip Schofield was one of the few to openly claim that Gemma had put in a poor effort
Sad times: Irish model Nadia Forde's reps jumped on the Twitter bandwagon by weighing in on the debate
'Gutted': Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley will miss Gemma's presence
Olympic swimmer Rebecca, who also struggled with her emotions during her time on the show last year, hinted that she thought Gemma should have stuck it out for longer.
'Shame that Gemma has left the jungle!! From past experience the first week is the hardest but gets better. Hope she's ok though #imaceleb', she wrote.
And This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield branded her a 'lightweight' for not giving the competition her all.
Celebrity support: The star has mostly been backed by fellow stars on Twitter, although some have questioned her lack of commitment
'So Gemma Collins has quit #ImACeleb after 3 days. What a shame, I thought she'd be fun, #Lightweight,' he posted.
Meanwhile, Gemma's camp mate Nadia Forde's reps tweeted on her behalf: 'We're sad to hear that Nadia's Celebrity Slammer buddy @missgemcollins has left the Jungle! #ImACeleb'.
It's been claimed that Gemma is still set to receive a sizable check for her blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance on the show.
Making an entrance: The boutique owner was hysterical before even arriving at the camp
While her I'm A Celeb fee remains undisclosed it is believed to exceed the £15,000 she reportedly earned for a brief appearance on Tom Daley's diving show Splash in 2013.
An ITV spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline, while Gemma's representative said: 'It is absolute rubbish that Gemma will receive her full fee and this 72 hours clause does not exist in her contract.'
Prior to her departure, Gemma was having a tough time in camp after being banished to the 'Celebrity Slammer' with Coronation Street star Craig Charles, 'Allo 'Allo actress Vicki Michele and Irish model Nadia Forde.
And the star has been inundated with a barrage of abuse on Twitter over her weight.
One user wrote: 'I give it 3 days before Gemma Collins eats somebody in the jungle.'
Harsh: Gemma's body shape has been a hot topic on Twitter, with even politicians weighing in
Controversial former Apprentice star Katie Hopkins waded into the debate, after putting on three stone herself for a social experiment.
She tweeted: 'Gemma is going to be so sick her whole stomach is going to fall out. Australia is only so big #ImACeleb'.
Even politicians got in on the act, with Harrow Councillor Susan Hall mocking the star's weight.
'#ImACeleb OMG this fat woman Gemma is ghastly, really ghastly..however watching her squeal may be funny!', she posted.
To see Gemma's shock departure watch I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here on ITV1 at 9:00pm.
Bikini babe: The star hadn't been enjoying life behind bars in the Celebrity Slammer
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2840637/Celebrities-react-Gemma-Collins-shock-m-Celebrity-exit.html#ixzz3JYMbBr00
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