I’m A Celebrity South Africa’s Seann Walsh on dad ‘hiding heroin in nappies’, his Strictly scandal and finding love with partner
Seann is back for another jungle stintSeann Walsh headed into the jungle for round two as I’m A Celebrity South Africa kicked off on April 6. But what do we know about the TV star who made headlines a few years back?
Along with the likes of Gemma Collins and David Haye, Seann will be roughing it up in the jungle for the next few weeks, in a bid to be crowned the I’m A Celebrity South Africa champion.
But when did Seann first appear on the original ITV show? What happened between him and Strictly pro Katya Jones? And how many kids does he have? Here’s everything you need to know about Seann Walsh.
Why is I’m A Celebrity star Seann Walsh famous? How old is he?
Seann Walsh is a comedian and actor. Born December 2, 19985, he is currently 40.
The performer has made several appearance on our TV screens in various shows, movies and stand-up performances. His TV show stints include Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Live at the Apollo, Celebrity Juice and Seann Walsh’s Late Night Comedy Spectacular.
His fame was propelled further when he took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, followed by an I’m A Celebrity stint a few years ago.
What happened in Seann Walsh’s childhood?
Born in London and raised in Brighton, Seann left school with just one GCSE. And growing up in a chaotic household had its difficulties for Seann.
“When I was a baby, my dad would hide heroin in my nappies when we went abroad on holiday,” Seann told iNews.
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He added: “When I was older, I remember playing FIFA ’97 on the PlayStation and my dad thought we were watching Match of the Day. That game had really basic graphics. You’ve got to be OFF YOUR [bleep] to think 32 bits is the real thing.”
Meanwhile, in February this year, Seann opened up again about his father. He said on Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast: “He was a heroin addict before I was born. So that’s that’s all I knew really going into the world.”
Revealing his father’s drug habits Seann explained: “He would freely smoke heroin. He never injected.” He then noted that it was “normal” he and his family “grew up with my dad smoking heroin around the house”.
Seann continued: “The problem with having a parent that relies on that drug in particular, is when they’re not on it, then they’re not present.
“You know, my dad was either on heroin or he was horizontal in bed, right? That’s it. And there’s no there is no middle ground between those two things. So, um, yes, we kind of wanted him on that.”
Who did Seann Walsh kiss on Strictly? Why did he get cancelled?
In 2018, Seann took part in Strictly Come Dancing and was partnered with Katya Jones. At the time he was in a relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries, whom he started dating in 2013.
Meanwhile, Katya was married to Strictly co-star Neil Jones. However, Seann and Katya were photographed kissing in the street in London.
Seann initially apologised on social media and said: “I would like to offer my sincere apologies for my actions. This is no excuse but it was a one-off drunken mistake which I am truly sorry for.”
The fallout saw Seann branded a ‘love rat’ in tabloid reports, and he went from walking on air to being, in his own words, the “most hated comedian in Britain”.
After news of his and Katya’s affair reached the press, the pair agreed to a televised interview with Zoe Ball on the BBC show It Takes Two.
Seann told Zoe he had made a mistake. He was sorry for the hurt he caused, and accepted that he was “not perfect”.
Seann on finding out about affair leak
Rebecca ended things with Seann after the scandal, while Katya and her partner Neil Jones separated in late 2024. However, they assured people at the time that their split had nothing to do with Seann.
Years later, Seann spoke about the scandal and revealed he had a panic attack in the street after the news of the kiss leaked.
On his YouTube special, Seann Walsh: Kiss, he said upon leaving his Notting Hill hotel, he was paranoid someone would recognise him and inform the press of his “secret” whereabouts.
“I just remember a blonde woman walking past me here and she clocked me. I felt like, I was sure that she definitely knew who I was.
“And that suddenly freaked me out. And I thought I’ve got to go back, I’m about to have a big panic attack,” he recalled. Seann’s senses started playing up, and it appears that he then collapsed onto the road next to the pavement.
“I’m now lying here screaming and I look up. A double-decker bus goes past and the whole of the top deck does this… [It’s] the most [bleep]ing London thing. They just looked at me,” he said.
Who is I’m A Celebrity star Seann Walsh’s partner? How long has he been with his girlfriend?
Seann has been in a relationship with dance teacher Grace Adderley since 2019.
And it turns out it was his other half Grace who convinced him to go on I’m A Celebrity in 2022. As Hello reports, he said: “Grace is the main reason why I am doing I’m A Celebrity.
“As you can imagine I was very scared after the last time I was on a big show because the fallout was not something you would want to go back to.
“Grace talked me into doing it. She convinced me it was the wrong attitude to have, not doing it because I feared what people would think, but to do it because I would have a wonderful time.”
How many children does Seann Walsh have?
In February 2023, Seann and Grace welcomed their first daughter, Wylda Primrose Adderley-Walsh. He also announced that he actually fainted during the birth.
“Watched this woman have to give a breech birth last night with very short notice. To see how strong she was, was one of the most amazing things I will ever see,” he said at the time.
Seann added: “I am in total awe of the bravery I witnessed. I’m so proud of her and just wanted to tell the world whilst they’re both asleep.”
Fast forward to March 2025, and the family of three became four, after Seann shared the joyous news they welcomed baby number two after keeping Grace’s pregnancy under wraps.
Seann took to his Instagram Story and uploaded a photo of daughter Wylda with what looked like yoghurt on her head.
“My first five minutes being left alone with Wylda and our newborn Casper. [Bleep] just got real,” he wrote in the caption, appearing to confirm their new arrival, Casper.
The baby news no doubt came as a surprise to fans as neither Seann Walsh nor Grace shared the news they were expecting another child.
When was Seann Walsh on I’m A Celebrity?
Seann took part in the 2022 series of I’m A Celebrity that featured famous faces such as Matt Hancock, Sue Cleaver and winner Lioness Jill Scott. Seann finished in fifth place.
As for why he decided to appear in the new I’m A Celebrity South Africa series alongside the likes of Adam Thomas, Seann said: “I had so much fun the first time around, I didn’t have to think for very long about whether I should do it or not.
“When you cross that bridge after you are out in the original series, anything difficult about the experience completely disappears and you are left with these wonderful memories that you get to keep for the rest of your life.
“Then as soon as you agree to go back in, all the things that were difficult return! I’ve still got phobias. The programme only cures you of your phobias when you are in there. As soon as you are back home, they all return! I’m feeling both nervous and excited.”
How much is Seann Walsh worth?
Seann’s net worth is estimated to sit at around £500k. Before signing up to I’m A Celebrity in 2022, the star faced financial troubles, with The Sun reporting he was down to his last £20k.
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How is Seann Walsh getting on in I’m A Celebrity South Africa?
Seann spent his first few days in camp in Savannah Scrub, alongside Adam, Gemma and Beverley. No sooner had they reunited with the rest of the campmates, though, and they were divided again. This time by a huge wall!
Seann was picked by Harry Redknapp to be on his Lions team. However, two trials in, including one by screamer Seann, and so far the Lions are going hungry… Last night’s trial (April 14) saw Seann take part. He was dangled above a rocky abyss and asked general knowledge questions, including one about the iconic Toto song Africa.
After completing the lyrics with the word ‘Spain’ and not ‘Africa’, Seann was flung over the edge, and the Lions were forced to endure rice and beans for dinner!
“Mummy!” he screamed as he dangled sky-high, before cutting his ropes and heading over the cliff!
Read more: Adam Thomas snubbed by ITV after ‘explosive’ unaired row with I’m A Celebrity co-star
