LONDON – The Australian bush just got a whole lot more emotional. On Tuesday night’s episode of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, 22-year-old rap sensation Aitch – real name Harrison Armstrong – broke down in the campfire glow, revealing the raw, heartfelt reason he’s swapped Manchester’s streets for the show’s Bushtucker Trials: To shine a global spotlight on Down Syndrome, all for his “fearless” little sister Gracie, 16, who’s been his hero since the day she was born. “I’m not doing this for fame or the headlines,” he said, voice cracking as tears streamed down his dirt-streaked face, the camp’s torches flickering like distant stars. “I’m doing it for her. Gracie’s the most perfect girl I’ve ever met – she’s taught me more about life than anyone. If I can change how one person sees Down Syndrome, make ‘em understand it’s a blessing, not a burden… that’s my win.” The moment, captured in a prize-from-home segment where Aitch clutched a photo of the siblings mid-hug, has racked up 15 million views on ITV’s YouTube overnight, sparking a flood of donations to the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) that’s already topped £2 million – proving one rapper’s vulnerability can move mountains, or at least empty wallets for a good cause.

Aitch – the chart-topping Manc lad behind bangers like “Baby Girl” and “My G” (the latter a direct ode to Gracie, with proceeds funneled straight to DSA) – entered the jungle on Sunday’s launch as the Gen Z wildcard, trading his signature bucket hat for a khaki vest and a quick wit that’s already earning him “camp king” whispers from co-stars like This Morning’s Alison Hammond and EastEnders’ Dean Gaffney. But it was the Gracie reveal that flipped the script from lighthearted trial banter to a national gut-punch. Born with Down Syndrome as one half of non-identical twins with sister Hattie, Gracie’s “extra chromosome” (as Aitch affectionately calls it) has been the quiet force shaping his world. “She’s fearless – grabs my face before bed and says, ‘Harrison, don’t be afraid,’” he shared on Jamie Laing’s Great Company podcast back in June, a clip that’s resurfaced with 8 million views this week. “Without her, I wouldn’t be half the person I am. She’s taught me to treat everyone the same – no judgments, just love. And yeah, it sounds mad, but having Down Syndrome? It’s one-nil to her. She’s always winning.”

The confession hit during a Bushtucker Trial aftermath – Aitch emerging from the “Viper Vault” caked in critters, clutching a letter from home that included Gracie’s doodle of a heart with “Big Bro Hero” scrawled in crayon. “When I found out she had Down Syndrome, mum was gutted at first – but now? It’s the best thing that ever happened to us,” he choked out, as campmate Joel Dommett passed him a tissue (and a cheeky “Man up, Manc lad” to lighten the mood). “People say ‘I’m sorry’ when they hear – don’t be. It’s a blessing. Gracie’s confidence? She’d storm in here, raid the snack fridge, no questions asked. I’m here to show the world that – no pity, just pride.” The raw honesty – no filters, no PR gloss – cut through the show’s usual schlock, turning a celebrity survival stunt into a masterclass in sibling love and advocacy.

Fans didn’t just watch; they felt it. X (formerly Twitter) lit up like a festival stage: #AitchForGracie exploded with 3.5 million posts by Wednesday morning, blending tearful tributes (“This Manc boy just became my hero – raising awareness while eating spiders? Legend”) and viral challenges (“Post your ‘extra chromosome’ wins – tag DSA!”). One standout thread from @DownsSyndromeUK, the official DSA account, shared Gracie’s story via Aitch’s words: “She’s the superstar in our family – fearless, funny, and full of life lessons we didn’t know we needed.” The response? A donation deluge: £500k in the first 24 hours, spiking to £2m by Thursday, fueled by celebs like Stormzy (“Proud of you, bro – Gracie sounds like a boss”) and Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall (“Sobbing in the DMs – let’s collab for DSA”). TikTok’s a battlefield of stitches: Users recreating Aitch’s tearful moment with family pics, racking up 50 million views under #MySparkOfHope, while DSA’s helpline saw a 300% call surge from parents seeking support – “If Aitch can talk about it on telly, so can we.”

Aitch’s journey to the jungle has always been laced with Gracie’s influence. The Newton Heath rapper – whose real breakthrough hit “Taste (Make It Shake)” went platinum in 2020 – has been an unapologetic advocate since his 2021 climb of Kilimanjaro for DSA, raising £160k in her honor. “You can be days from birth and still choose to terminate if it’s Down Syndrome – but if not, you’ve got a window. That’s mad,” he vented on the podcast, slamming selective stigma. “Gracie’s changed me – taught me humanity over everything. Treat folks the same, no matter what.” His track “My G,” a bouncy tribute dropped in 2023, donates all royalties to the charity, with lyrics like “Extra chromie, but she’s shining brighter / Little sis, my fighter, world’s got it wrong – she’s the lighter.” Fans have long clocked the dedication; now, with 10 million streams post-episode, it’s a chart-climber anew.

Back home, mum Dee Armstrong – a no-nonsense Manc mum who juggled three kids (Aitch, Hattie, and Gracie) through single parenthood – beamed in a pre-jungle interview with The Sun: “Harrison’s always been Gracie’s protector – from school bullies to bad days. This show? It’s her stage too. She’s buzzing, says ‘Tell ‘em I’m the boss!’” The twins, now 16, are polar opposites: Hattie the “superstar” with her TikTok dances (1.2m followers), Gracie the “fearless one” who, per Aitch, “takes over any room – snacks or spotlight.” Their bond? Unbreakable – Aitch’s Instagram flooded with sibling snaps, from Gracie crashing his music vids to family BBQs where she bosses the playlist.

The ripple? Beyond the donations, it’s reshaping narratives. DSA reports a 150% uptick in positive Down Syndrome stories on socials, with parents sharing “wins” like first steps or school triumphs. Celeb ripple: Oti Mabuse, a fellow campmate, teared up in a confessional: “Aitch’s words? They hit home – my niece has DS, and seeing her as a ‘blessing’? Game-changer.” Critics hail it a turning point for reality TV: “From shallow trials to soul-baring truths – Aitch just elevated the jungle,” gushed The Guardian’s TV critic.

As Aitch faces his next Trial – rumored “Witchery Way” with spiders and snakes – his campmates rally: Dean Gaffney dubbing him “Gracie’s Ambassador,” Joel cracking “You Mancs and your heart – it’s bigger than your ego!” The nation watches, wallets open, hearts full. Aitch’s mission? Not fame, but family – proving one spark of hope can light up the darkest bush. Gracie’s watching from Manchester, pom-poms ready: “Big bro’s my hero – now go win stars for us!”

Tune in nightly on ITV; donate at downs-syndrome.org.uk. Because as Aitch raps: “Extra chromie, but she’s the light – one-nil to the fighters tonight.”