Manchester rapper Aitch has revealed the deeply personal reason he agreed to enter the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! jungle this year — to raise awareness for people with Down Syndrome, inspired by his 13-year-old sister Gracie, whom he calls “the most perfect girl I’ve ever met”.
Speaking candidly, the 25-year-old musician said he hopes to shift perceptions and dismantle the stigma around the condition. He explained that he’s doing the series not only for those with Down Syndrome but also for their families who may feel lost or worried after receiving a diagnosis. He said he doesn’t want anyone “to be disheartened or feel s*** if they do find out someone in the family’s got Down Syndrome,” insisting that “it’s a blessing” and that “you’re going to have the best time of your life as long as you’re spending it with that person.”
Aitch, whose real name is Harrison James Armstrong, stressed that his “main thing” is making sure Down Syndrome is not treated as something negative. “I don’t want anyone to say, ‘Oh yeah, my kid’s got Down Syndrome, or my sister’s got Down Syndrome,’ as if it’s sad news. They’re the best people in the world.”
The rapper, who has an incredibly close bond with Gracie and dedicated his track My G to her, also waded into sensitive territory by criticising UK abortion laws that allow termination of babies with Down Syndrome up to birth. He admitted he was shocked when he found out about the legal disparity, saying: “I’ve just learned certain things over the years that make me a bit sad. In terms of you can be a day before giving birth, and if you find out your child’s got Down Syndrome, you can still have the option to terminate it. Whereas in another situation, if your kid doesn’t have that, you’ve only got a certain amount of time before you can abort.”
All profits from My G are donated to the Down’s Syndrome Association. The track opens with a tribute reading: “This song is dedicated to Gracie Armstrong. You have the biggest heart in the world! Don’t change for no one. Love you kid x.” The music video also features Ed Sheeran.
Aitch shared that he didn’t tell Gracie about his upcoming jungle stint because “she’s a chatty mouth,” joking that she thinks he’s travelling to LA instead. He expects she’ll find out only when the episode airs, saying: “She’ll probably just be like, ‘Oh, that’s Harrison!’ She’ll be buzzing for me. She loves it.”
Alongside raising awareness, Aitch admitted the opportunity was too iconic to refuse. “It’s just a show I grew up watching, so it’s hard to say no,” he said, adding that his mum “would have got mad” if he turned it down. He also hopes the series will help him expand into more TV work.
The rapper joins a star-studded cast including Jack Osbourne and Kelly Brook and is expected to become one of this season’s breakout favourites — not only for his courage in facing the jungle, but for carrying his sister’s story with him every step of the way.