Jessica Plummer career: From Neon Jungle to Eastenders

I'm a Celebrity viewers are only just learning they have known Jessica Plummer for a lot longer than they realised.

Plummer joined the hit ITV reality series just a few months after she left EastEnders, making it though until Tuesday’s episode (1 December), when she was voted off alongside Russell Watson.

But, when first introducing herself on the ITV reality show, she told viewers that she was originally best known for being a part of the girl band Neon Jungle as opposed to being Chantelle Atkins in the BBC soap.

Formed in 2013, the band were best known for their tracks “Trouble” and “Braveheart”. 

They released their debut and only album, the appropriately titled Welcome to the Jungle, in 2014, which reached No 8 on the UK albums chart. Neon Jungle split up the following year.

Many viewers couldn't believe Plummer was in the band, expressing their surprise on Twitter.

“I've definitely heard of Neon Jungle, had no idea Jessica Plummer was in it,” one person wrote.

Another added: “Omg I didn't realise til she just said that Jessica Plummer was in Neon Jungle. Loved that band!!”

One viewer wrote: “I had NO IDEA Jessica Plummer was in Neon Jungle. I loved their music when I was younger! 'Trouble' was a banger of a song!!! Oh man. What a shock.”

Since Neon Jungle, Plummer has become better-known for her performance as Chantelle Atkins in EastEnders. 

Plummer was widely praised for her role, which involved a widely discussed domestic abuse storyline that ended when her character was killed by her abusive partner, Gray Atkins.

Before EastEnders, Plummer also had roles in the 2017 sci-fi comedy How to Talk to Girls at Parties, based on Neil Gaiman’s short story of the same name, and a small role in the BBC series Wizards vs Aliens. 

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have returned to present the new-look series of I’m a Celebrity, which is taking place in Wales due to the pandemic.

While UK audiences were excited by the long-running reality show’s return, some were “irritated” by the “pointless” use of helicopters in the launch show.