I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star's shock link to notorious serial killer Ivan Milat resurfaces

A link between an I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! cast member and one of Australia's most notorious killers has resurfaced.

Samantha Moitzi, now in the jungle for the reality hit, is the great niece of Ivan Milat.

The 30-year-old influencer first revealed she was a relative of the man known as the 'backpacker killer' when she appeared on for Married At First Sight back in 2022.

Then based on the Gold Coast Moitzi told producers during filming she was the granddaughter of Milat's younger sister Shirley Soire.

While on MAFS, she was matched with cheeky groom Al Perkins. 

Moitzi apparently broke down in tears when the chippie suggested they watch the 2005 horror movie Wolf Creek, which is often thought to be 'inspired' by Milat's grisly crimes.

'Al wanted to watch Wolf Creek one night and things turned awkward really quickly,' a well-placed source told Daily Mail Australia in 2022.

Perkins reportedly suggested it would be 'fun' to watch the film because he 'hadn't seen it yet', and thought a scary movie would 'help them bond'.

'He had absolutely no clue about her family. It was very awkward. Sam was hesitant, but just had to tell him. He was gobsmacked,' the insider said.

The Australian cult horror movie, starring John Jarratt, is set in the outback and involves the grisly murders of two innocent backpackers.

Ivan Milat, meanwhile, committed his murders in bushland in southern New South Wales in the 1990s.

According to the on-set source, Moitzi was 'anxious' about discussing the subject on camera, so told Perkins privately instead.

The family link was not addressed on the Channel Nine show.

Viewers will have to wait and see whether Moitzi will be confronted by any of the other contestants about the subject during her time in the jungle.

Moitzi's grandmother Shirley Soire, who died in 2003, was a staunch supporter of her killer brother and is said to have helped him 'get rid of' a gun.

She married husband Gerry in 1964. The couple had two children and later divorced.

'Shirley used to take her grandchildren to the prison to visit her brother on many occasions,' a source told Daily Mail Australia.

Milat murdered seven backpackers and hitchhikers between 1989 and 1992 in the Belanglo State Forest, south of Sydney, and was suspected of killing others.

He was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences without parole.

His victims were English backpackers Caroline Clarke, 21, and Joanne Walters 22; Melbourne couple James Gibson and Deborah Everist, both 19; and German backpackers Simone Schmidl, 20, Gabor Neugebauer, 21, and Anja Habschied, 20.

He died aged 74 of oesophageal and stomach cancer at Long Bay jail's hospital in October 2019.

Channel Nine and Moitzi were contacted about the MAFS story but did not respond.

It comes after IAC got off to a shaky start with viewers last week. 

Viewers panned the first episode branding the premiere as 'unfunny' while the cast of celebrities were labelled as 'nobodies'.

The 2025 series features Love Island star Tina Provis, footballer Zach Tuohy, comedian Geraldine Hickey, TV star Nicky Buckley and influencer Max Balegde.

Alongside Moitzi, there is also Olympian Shayna Jack, comedian Dave Hughes and rugby league player Sam Thaiday.

Reality stars Reggie Bird, of Big Brother fame, and former Bachelor Matty Johnson round out the list.

Meanwhile, longtime host Julia Morris was again joined by co-host Robert Irwin after the departure of Chris Brown in 2023.

Not everyone watching was entertained however, with several sharing their thoughts on X.

'The lowest common denominator with desperate has-beens. Can’t they invest in Aussie actors, directors and writers instead?' wrote one person.

'Biggest load of rubbish ever,' said another while one more posted, 'Some of Julia’s jokes are older than me. And not as funny.'

'At this point I have only heard of four of the celebrities. Lowest ever for me,' someone else chimed in.

'Look at them looking at each other trying to figure out who each other is. Absolutely no idea,' said one more.

'This has to be the worst selection of so called celebrities ever,' someone else posted.

'At this stage, Raygun would’ve been a great addition, who are these people?' a viewer said.

'Yeah this show peaked last year and the fall from grace is extreme. No more #ImACelebrityAU for me,' another wrote.

Last year, I'm A Celebrity was said to have been on the chopping block until one ratings-saving addition was made to the jungle series.

Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed the show, which sees celebrities living in the jungle with few creature comforts, wasn't expected to return last year.

According to an inside source, host Julia Morris told a close friend she was not confident the show would run again until Robert Irwin was introduced to the series.

The Wildlife Warrior's addition to the reality TV show after former co-host Dr Chris Brown jumped ship to Channel Seven reinvigorated the series.

'I think if Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris were still hosting "celeb" it might have been done, but the show's addition of Robert Irwin has given the show new life. The youngest Irwin has really saved the show,' the source said.

'There are also a lot of established fans that have supported this show over the years and I think being back in January is the right decision for the show and there are some great people behind the show's production.

'It helps when you have a solid team that believes in the show and the "celeb family" behind the scenes were not going without a fight.'

The insider went on to say that ITV Australia, the company that produces I'm A Celeb, rallied for the show to stay in the line-up, citing Robert, 20, among the show's strengths.