Spencer Matthews won’t be cheering his wife, Vogue Williams, from the sidelines of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! — not because he doesn’t want to, but because he’s racing across continents. The 35-year-old former Made in Chelsea star is mid-way through his grueling Seven Continents Seven Ironman challenge, a feat so extreme it’s pulled him away from the Australian jungle where Williams has just entered as a late arrival contestant. The timing couldn’t be more ironic. Nearly a decade ago, Matthews was famously pulled from the same show after admitting to steroid use. Now, as his wife endures the same trials, his absence is sparking fresh scrutiny — and a strange kind of poetic justice.
A Race Against Time, Not Just Clocks
Matthews isn’t just training for one Ironman. He’s doing seven — one on each continent — in just 21 days. That means swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112, and running a full marathon (26.2 miles) in places like Antarctica, Africa, and now South Africa, where his next race is scheduled. There’s no room for detours. No flexibility. When you’re flying between poles and deserts with only hours to recover, Australia’s Murwillumbah jungle isn’t on the itinerary. "It’s not that I don’t want to be there," Matthews told Good Morning Britain on November 16, 2023. "It’s that I can’t. This isn’t a hobby. It’s a mission. And Vogue knows that. She’s the one who told me to go for it." That’s the twist: Williams, 36, is not just a contestant — she’s his biggest cheerleader. In the same interview, she told hosts she hopes to be at his finish line when he completes his final Ironman. The irony? She’s now trapped in a jungle with bugs, bugs, and more bugs — while he’s battling icy winds in Antarctica and blistering heat in Africa. Their roles have reversed. She’s the one enduring the show. He’s the one chasing a physical Everest.The Ghost of 2015
It’s impossible to talk about Matthews and I'm a Celebrity without the elephant in the room: his 2015 exit. At 26, he was pulled from the show just two days after arriving after admitting he’d been taking steroid-based medication to bulk up for a charity boxing match — one that, ironically, never happened. "Vanity," he later told the BBC, "had been the reason." He’d planned to taper off the drugs slowly, but the jungle call came too soon. Production deemed it unsafe. He left, bags packed, humiliated. "It was a serious error of judgement," he admitted then. And now, as his wife steps into the same jungle, viewers are asking: Does this feel like karma? Cosmopolitan UK and The Independent both noted that since Williams’ entrance on November 19, 2023, online chatter has exploded with comments like: "Is this poetic?" and "History repeating?" Even ITV’s social media team didn’t escape the wave of memes — one fan posted a side-by-side: Matthews leaving in 2015, Williams entering in 2023, with the caption: "The cycle continues."
Why This Matters Beyond the Jungle
This isn’t just about a reality TV couple. It’s about how modern fame works. People don’t just have careers anymore — they have projects. Matthews isn’t just an ex-reality star; he’s a fitness entrepreneur, a public advocate for endurance sports. Williams isn’t just a presenter; she’s a podcast host and fashion influencer with her own brand. Their lives are curated performances — and now, their personal sacrifices are being broadcast live. The scheduling clash highlights a quiet truth: celebrity couples don’t get to choose when life interrupts. One’s on a plane to the South Pole. The other’s eating bugs for votes. The public watches, laughs, judges — and forgets that behind the headlines are two people trying to be their best selves, even if it means being apart.What’s Next for the Matthews-Wilsons?
Matthews’ final Ironman is scheduled for Antarctica on December 10, 2023. If he completes it, he’ll be one of fewer than 20 people in history to achieve the Seven Continents Seven Ironman feat. Williams’ fate in the jungle remains unknown — but if she wins, she’ll likely join the ranks of past champions like Joe Swash and Caroline Flack. One thing’s certain: when she emerges, she’ll have a hero waiting — not just as her husband, but as someone who pushed his body to the edge of human limits.For now, the couple’s support is digital. Texts. Voice notes. A single video message Williams posted on Instagram: "I’m eating bugs. You’re running marathons in the snow. We’re both crazy. I love you."
Background: The 2015 Controversy Revisited
Matthews’ 2015 removal wasn’t a minor slip-up. It was a scandal that dominated UK tabloids. At the time, the show’s producers cited "duty of care" — a legal obligation to protect contestants’ health. Steroids, even if taken for non-competitive reasons, carried risks: heart strain, liver damage, mood swings. The show had already faced criticism over contestant safety after a 2014 incident involving dehydration. Matthews’ case became a cautionary tale.What’s rarely mentioned? He never used the steroids to gain an advantage on the show. He was preparing for a charity fight that got canceled. He wasn’t trying to cheat the game — he was trying to be a better version of himself. But in reality TV, intent doesn’t matter. Perception does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t Spencer Matthews just fly to Australia for a few days?
The Seven Continents Seven Ironman challenge requires strict timing — each race must be completed within a 21-day window, and travel logistics between continents are tightly scheduled. Flying to Australia would require days of travel, quarantine, and recovery time, making it impossible to complete the next race in South Africa on schedule. The challenge’s rules are non-negotiable.
Did Vogue Williams know about Spencer’s steroid scandal before joining I'm a Celebrity?
Yes. In multiple interviews, including one with Radio 1 in 2022, Williams openly discussed Matthews’ past, calling it "a stupid mistake he owned up to." She’s said his honesty about it made her admire him more, not less. She even joked on her podcast that "if I get kicked off for taking a protein shake, at least I won’t be as dramatic as him."
Has anyone else been removed from I'm a Celebrity for steroid use?
No. Spencer Matthews remains the only contestant ever removed from the show for steroid use. While other celebrities have faced criticism for taking supplements or medications, none have been pulled for the same reason. His case remains unique — and controversial — in the show’s 23-year history.
What’s the significance of the Seven Continents Seven Ironman challenge?
Only 19 people worldwide have completed this feat as of 2023. It requires not just physical endurance, but extreme logistical planning — visas, weather windows, medical clearances, and access to remote locations like Antarctica. Matthews is attempting it in record time: 21 days. If successful, he’ll be the fastest person ever to complete it, beating the previous record by nearly a week.
Why is the 2015 incident resurfacing now?
Reality TV thrives on parallels. When a former contestant’s spouse enters the same show, audiences naturally compare experiences. Social media algorithms amplify these connections. The fact that Matthews was removed for health violations — and now Williams is risking hers for votes — creates a narrative arc that’s too compelling for viewers to ignore.
Is there a chance Matthews will appear on the show remotely?
ITV has not announced any plans for remote appearances. While past seasons have featured surprise video calls from family, these are rare and usually reserved for emotional moments. Matthews’ absence is being treated as a logistical reality, not a story point — though fans are already campaigning for a surprise video message during the finale.
