Loose Women star Janet Street Porter defends Nella Rose as she slams Fred Sirieix

With its controversial lineup, this year's series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! was always going to be an explosive one.

Now, Loose Women presenter Janet Street Porter has defended Nella Rose following criticism about her behaviour towards fellow campmate Fred Sirieix.

Things kicked off on I'm A Celeb last night (21 November) when Nella called out First Dates maître d' and TV personality Fred for making a ‘disrespectful’ comment in relation to her late father.

The evening before, the 26-year-old had opened up to Fred about her father passing away.

But while speaking about their age difference, 51-year-old Fred said he 'could be her dad'.

The next day, Nella lashed out at Fred, saying she felt 'disrespected' by his comment and told him to stay away from her.

When he tried to talk to her, she replied: "Can you leave me alone?" before going on to call him an 'idiot' and a 'weirdo'.

Nella explained: "You know that my mum's dead, and you know that my dad's dead. You know that, right?"

After the YouTuber had slammed him for his comments, Fred replied: "I am so sorry. Can I just say? First of all, I am sorry I've offended you. I am unaware that you felt offended."

Things kicked off in the jungle when Nella Rose said she felt 'disrespected' by fellow campmate Fred Sirieix. Credit ITV

The heated moment has left I'm A Celeb viewers divided, with many on social media saying Nella had 'overreacted' and had simply taken Fred's comment the wrong way.

Now, journalist and Loose Women star Janet Street Porter has weighed in on the fued and sided with the social media star.

While speaking on the lunchtime panel show earlier today (22 November), she said: "In Nella’s defence, I found Fred incredibly patronising.

"I mean, he’s not serving food in a restaurant now, he’s not dealing with difficult customers.

"I can see that what he said to her could’ve offended her and also, looking at her backstory, her parents came from the Congo, they went to Belgium, both of her parents died within a few [years] of each other…"

Nella suffered tremendous heartache when her mother 'died in her arms' in 2016. She lost her father just four short years later.

Instagram/@nellarosee

When co-panelist Jane Moore jumped in to defend Fred, saying it 'wasn't [his] fault,' Janet continued: "It’s not Fred’s fault and he will not be aware of it, but that will inform how she reacts to him."

She added that she would ‘hate to see, as a result of this, that she gets voted out of that camp.'

Love Island star Indiyah Polack also defended her friend while appearing on this morning's episode of Lorraine.

The influencer told Lorraine: "I don’t think Fred had any malicious intent but again none of us are Nella and in a sweaty jungle, getting eaten by green ants and surviving on rice and beans, so I feel like in that environment it is very easy for things to be blown out or taken the wrong way."