Kelly Brook has sensationally addressed the long-running ‘awkwardness’ with Ant and Dec, insisting there was ZERO tension when she stepped into the jungle last year on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The 47-year-old model and radio star, who famously lasted 17 days in the Australian outback before becoming the fourth campmate evicted, has finally set the record straight on her infamous fallout with the Geordie presenting duo – a bitter saga that dates back to her dramatic axing from Britain’s Got Talent in 2009.

In an exclusive new interview with The Sun, Kelly revealed there was no awkwardness at all when she came face-to-face with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly after more than 16 years of rumoured bad blood.

“There was no awkwardness at all. Ant and Dec are the sweetest, and they were so excited that I was doing the show,” she gushed. “I think they are really involved in the casting of it.”

The bombshell comments come after years of speculation that the duo had played a key role in her shock exit from BGT – a move that left Kelly furious and publicly pointing the finger at the presenting legends.

Kelly hit out at Ant and Dec in 2012 (Credit: ITV)

The explosive feud explained: From BGT axe to jungle reunion

It all kicked off back in 2009 when Kelly was sensationally announced as the new fourth judge on Britain’s Got Talent alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Piers Morgan.

But her dream gig lasted just six days – some reports even say as little as two – before bosses pulled the plug.

ITV claimed the four-judge format had made auditions “too complicated,” but Kelly was convinced there was more to it.

She later blasted: “The people at ITV were telling me that I had upset Ant and Dec and that was it. I would love to have stayed on the show. I really felt it was working out. Ant and Dec had never been anything but pleasant to my face but, clearly, they didn’t want me on the show.”

“Their egos are such that they were saying to themselves, ‘How dare she think she can come on to our show?’ And since then, they’ve been very vocal about their displeasure at me being there.”

Ant and Dec weren’t thrilled either. In their autobiography, they admitted being furious about not being consulted on Kelly’s hiring.

“We didn’t ask for her to be sacked. But it’s completely true we were annoyed that she’d been brought in because we hadn’t been told about it,” Dec revealed.

“We were angry about Kelly. But it was because no one asked our opinion. What was upsetting was that it happened in the first place. It was wrong from the start.”

The spat simmered for years, with fans and insiders wondering if the pair would ever bury the hatchet.

Then came the ultimate test: Kelly signing up for I’m A Celebrity in 2025 – the very show hosted by Ant and Dec.

Viewers held their breath as Kelly parachuted dramatically from a helicopter onto the beach in the opening episode, coming face-to-face with the duo for the first time since the BGT debacle.

Some reports described the reunion as “awkward”, with Ant and Dec reportedly failing to acknowledge her properly at first. Body language experts weighed in, claiming Kelly’s true feelings were mixed.

Even Piers Morgan waded into the drama, confirming the sacking was “ruthless” and admitting the sudden hiring had left the hosts fuming.

But now, post-jungle, Kelly is adamant the past is firmly in the past.

‘No awkwardness at all’ – Kelly puts feud rumours to bed

In her candid chat, Kelly revealed she was actually star-struck seeing Ant and Dec again.

“They were really fun and supportive. I was so excited when I saw them for the first time – I was in a helicopter looking down at them. I actually got star-struck, even though I worked with them all those years ago.”

“I’m a massive fan of the show, so it was surreal to suddenly be in there. Plus, Ant and Dec were the least of my worries – I was more concerned with snakes, spiders, and the lack of food!”

The cheeky quip – “Least of my worries!” – perfectly sums up Kelly’s new relaxed attitude.

Despite the long history, she insists the Geordie pair were nothing but welcoming.

“Ant and Dec are the sweetest,” she repeated, adding they were “really excited” about her casting.

The jungle stint wasn’t without its own drama – Kelly left after a memorable night at the Jungle Arms pub, where she shared laughs and drinks with campmates before her shock exit.

She even had an emotional reunion with husband Jeremy Parisi, breaking down in tears on the famous bridge.

But through it all, the Ant and Dec reunion became one of the most talked-about storylines – and now Kelly has confirmed there were no lingering grudges.

Fans react: From awkward tension to full reconciliation?

The comments have sparked a frenzy online, with fans divided over whether the feud was ever as explosive as claimed.

Some pointed to moments during the series where Ant cheekily referenced the drama on the Unpacked aftershow, jokingly asking Dec: “What’s your problem with Kelly Brook?!” – prompting laughter from the studio audience.

Others praised Kelly for handling the reunion “like a pro” despite the history.

One viewer tweeted: “Kelly saying there was no awkwardness is the ultimate clapback – she’s moved on and won!”

Another added: “After 16 years, finally hearing her say Ant and Dec were supportive? Iconic.”

What’s next for Kelly Brook?

Since leaving the jungle, Kelly has been back on the radio waves and sharing sizzling snaps that send fans wild – including a recent fiery lingerie ad that left followers in meltdown.

The model-turned-TV star seems happier than ever, putting past dramas behind her and focusing on the future.

And with her latest comments, it looks like the infamous Ant and Dec feud is officially over – at least from Kelly’s side.

“No awkwardness at all,” she declared.

In showbiz, where grudges can last decades, that’s one reconciliation fans never saw coming.

But as Kelly herself put it: when you’re facing down creepy-crawlies and starvation in the jungle, a 16-year-old spat really is the least of your worries.