Could we have another Irish reality TV show winner for 2019?
Another batch of stars will be heading into the jungle on Sunday for a brand new season of 'I'm A Celebrity'. Well, we say "stars", but you may not have a breeze who some of them are.
We're here to help so below is all of this year's lineup in their Jungle finest along with their professions and how they feel about the challenges ahead.
We even have a couple of Irish representatives in the batch with Andrew Maxwell and Nadine Coyle. Hopefully, they can follow the Irish reality show winning trend of 2019.
Phobias: I don’t like the look of any of those guys – the insects and creepy crawlies!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: Nothing - I am just going to be myself.
Role in the camp: The person who cleans out the toilet every day and who collects the logs.
Miss most: My wife, children, beer and football.
Dream camper: Geoff Capes.
Missing any special occasion: Other than my stand-up gigs, no.
Relationship status: Married
Andrew says, "I am really looking forward to being in Australia and being part of this year’s I’m a Celebrity. It was a no brainer when they asked me and I said ‘yes’ immediately.” “In fact on the day of my meeting, we were clearing out our basement at home and there was a spider. I picked it up and put it on my face for a bit of practice!”
He says his family find it ‘hilarious’ he is taking part this year and he thinks his fellow comedians will also find it funny when they discover he is going in the Jungle. “My family will definitely be voting for me to do the trials. They find it hilarious.”
And how will he feel to be crowned the ‘King of the Jungle’? “I will be really chuffed if I win,” he replies. “But with something like this, it is so much more pleasant to live the experience. Yes it will be uncomfortable, wet and there will be mosquitos and spiders but what an amazing opportunity this is.”
Phobias: Heights, rats, snakes – everything!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: There’s nothing I can think of. This is so outside my comfort zone!
Role in the camp: Cook and someone who is there to help with chores.
Miss most: My daughter, Anaiya.
Dream camper: Nadiya Hussain – she would be great for cooking us meals.
Missing any special occasion: No.
Relationship status: Single.
Former Girls Aloud singer, Nadine Coyle, has revealed she signed up for I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in a bid to dispel her fear of trying anything new.
The 34-year-old explains since she became a Mum to her daughter, Anaiya, she has lost her gutsy attitude and become quite fearful of simple things in life like flying.
And by signing up for I’m a Celebrity, she hopes stepping outside her comfort zone will give her renewed confidence.
“I really want to try something completely new. I am scared of so many things. I used to be brave. In the past, I’ve opened a restaurant, had a record label, had my daughter and it was go, go, go with all of these. Now I have got so fearful even being in the car, flying or general things. I think it is since I became a parent that I am much more afraid.”
“I really hope that by doing this, it pushes me so far out the comfort zone and that I learn to be comfortable, feel relaxed and do the things that I didn’t used to be afraid of.”
Phobias: None but like everyone, insects do gross me out.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: To show I am exactly the same person as I have always been.
Role in the camp: To be there for everyone in the camp and to help with chores.
Miss most: My family, friends, house – everything!
Dream camper: Kanye West, he is a good friend of mine and he’s good to have an intelligent and interesting conversation with.
Missing any special occasion: Thanksgiving.
Relationship status: ‘I have lots of friends’.
American TV star, Caitlyn Jenner outlines why she has taken on the challenge of TV’s toughest Entertainment show, 'I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!' – and she predicts it will be tough.
“I did the US version of this and it was a very interesting experience last time I did it,” explains the star. “Being in the Jungle is certainly not easy and yes, it is totally back to basics but I thought this would be a great opportunity to leave everything behind for three weeks. Last time, it was almost like a cleansing of the soul!”
Readily admitting she will find dealing with her fellow contestants the toughest part of doing I’m A Celebrity, she thinks her second time in camp will be a very different experience. “Dealing with other people is by far the hardest thing,” she explains. “It’s much more difficult than dealing with the most poisonous snakes in the world. That’s easy - just stay away from them!”
Caitlyn has ten children, including Kylie and Kendall Jenner. She is also related to Kim Kardashian who is the daughter of Caitlyn’s former wife, Kris. So what does her famous family think about Caitlyn going on I’m a Celebrity? Laughing, she says they did ask her why she wanted to do it but stresses: “I said, you know what, I need a break, I like challenges.”
Phobias: Insects, creatures, spiders – everything.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I think some people see me as a pushover or doormat – I am not.
Role in the camp: Shoulder to cry on.
Miss most: My children, husband, family and social media!
Dream camper: Jamie Oliver would be wicked. He would be able to cook in the camp.
Missing any special occasion: No.
Relationship status: Married
Former 'EastEnders' actress Jacqueline Jossa reveals she is looking forward to a phone detox in the Jungle as she predicts her soap friends will be shocked to discover she is a contestant because she ‘doesn’t do creatures’.
And the 27-year-old – who quit in 2018 as Lauren Branning in the BBC1 drama after eight years – also admits the toughest part of taking part in this year’s I’m a Celebrity is going to be entering as herself rather than as a fictional character.
“It’s going to be so difficult going in as me and that’s definitely going to be the hardest part,” says Jacqueline. “I have never done a show where I have been myself. And I am also scared of everything – especially spiders! They are the worst, there will be tears!”
As for her role in the camp, Jacqueline thinks she will be a shoulder to cry on but the actress warns she doesn’t know how she will cope with little sleep and food. “I can get hangry,” she admits. “I do love my food but I am going in with an open mind. It’s also going to be great getting to know everyone and if I lose any weight, I won’t mind. I will put it back on at Christmas anyway!”
Phobias: I’m not going to tell you!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I’m going in the Jungle to have a fun time but I’ve always done this lad bravado kind of thing and actually I am really different.
Role in the camp: I will help around the camp with all the jobs.
Miss most: My wife, technology and not being able to read a book.
Dream camper: Idris Elba.
Missing any special occasion: No.
Relationship status: Married.
James – who enjoyed a 17-year career that saw him play for England, Wasps and Northampton – admits: “A lot of my team mates had said in the past ‘wouldn’t it be fun if you went into the Jungle’ but I always laughed as a) I thought nobody would approach me and b) I thought I was going to be in the World Cup but I retired sooner than I thought!”
“And so to be asked is such a special opportunity. You will get to test yourself in amazing surroundings and find out a little bit more about yourself. I am excited.” Going on to reflect on his wife and in-laws’ reaction to the news he was going in the Jungle, he adds: “ I have a fantastic relationship with them (Richard & Judy) and they are very supportive. They are massive fans of the show and they will be out in Australia.”
Phobias: Bugs and spiders – I have to get my family members to get rid of them for me!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: Nothing. I am a pretty normal person. I even go to the shops in my PJs!
Role in the camp: Cook.
Miss most: My PlayStation. I love gaming!
Dream camper: Sir Elton John. I admire him so much and he’s a Watford boy too.
Missing any special occasion: No.
Relationship status: Single.
He is one of this year’s Jungle bachelors but Rak-Su star, Myles Stephenson, has ruled out finding romance in the Jungle. Smiling, the 28-year-old insists he wants to embrace single life and he definitely doesn’t want to find love under the stars. But the 2017 X Factor winner says he can’t wait to get stuck into camp life on I’m a Celebrity and meet his idols - Ant and Dec.
Myles says: “Going on I’m a Celebrity is going to be so much harder than doing The X Factor but I am so excited. I have watched it for years and it is something I have always wanted to do.”
“I am a massive fan of the show and Ant and Dec. They were the reason I was a Newcastle FC fan initially growing up! Spending time with them and potentially people you have idolised over the years is so exciting.”
Phobias: Spiders, heights, being in a box covered with snakes – I am terrified of absolutely everything.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: Nothing, I want to go in the Jungle and fly the flag for the older woman.
Role in the camp: Cooking for everyone.
Miss most: My family and not being able to check the news headlines about the latest Brexit developments.
Dream camper: The Queen – she would be the best campmate in the world!
Missing any special occasion: Lorraine Kelly’s 60th party and Richard Arnold’s 50th party!
Relationship status: Married.
'Good Morning Britain' presenter Kate Garraway hopes her fear of heights, insects and bugs in the Jungle will give the nation a laugh and provide much-needed light relief from the Brexit political wrangles. And the 52-year-old news junkie jokes she is going to ban everyone in the camp talking about whether Britain should ‘Leave’ or ‘Remain’ in Europe. Says Kate: “I am a news junkie and I can’t remember a time when I haven’t read a paper or even when I am abroad, watched the news on a TV or your phone.
But maybe one of the joys of doing 'I’m a Celebrity' will be not talking about Brexit! Maybe that could be this year’s thing and nobody is allowed to talk about Brexit because I have been talking about Brexit since the year before the referendum!”
“I am terrified of all of the things in the Jungle, especially heights – it is the crazy heights on thin bits suspended on bits of metal or wood. Or if you are in a little box with creepy crawlies or snakes in it!”
“But I am excited about doing the show because as you get older, you realise you don’t get many chances for pure adventure in life. I am going to give it a good shot and everyone can have a laugh and I hope it takes their mind off Brexit!”
Phobias: Some of those things [snakes, rats and creepy crawlies] will make me squirm but I will deal with them when I am in there!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I am going in as me and I am not going in to try to be anything different.
Role in the camp: Help out with all the activities.
Miss most: Aside from my family, football.
Dream camper: Someone who has knowledge and wisdom.
Missing any special occasion: Football punditry work commitments.
Relationship status: Married.
Arsenal and England football legend Ian Wright reveals he sought the advice of his friend and former winner, Harry Redknapp, after deliberating over whether to finally accept an offer to appear on this year’s 'I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!' Ian – who is now one of TV’s best-known football pundits – says he has rejected countless approaches in the past because he felt there was too much jeopardy involved.
But after being impressed by Harry’s efforts in the Jungle last year and seeing the camaraderie formed around the campfire, he decided he’d love to take part in what he describes as a ‘brilliant family entertainment show’.
“When I was first approached this year, we thought about it for ages as it is not something where you think ‘ah I will do that’,” reveals Ian, who is also affectionately referred to as ‘Wrighty’.
“I have been asked to do it every year and every time, I have always thought I am definitely not doing that because there was more and more jeopardy involved. “But I think the last series was one of the best I have seen in respect of camaraderie.”
“Harry and I play golf together and we spoke about it. He had a really great time, it was a fantastic thing for him to do and he is still talking about it to this day!”
“Now it does appeal to me at this particular time. I like the vibe, it is a really cool show and I am really intrigued.”
Phobias: Spiders – I am so petrified!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I can’t think of any.
Role in the camp: Cleaner and I’ll set up a pretend radio studio in the camp to inject some fun.
Miss most: My girlfriend, family and music – a day doesn’t go by when I am not listening to it.
Dream camper: Rita Ora – she is amazing.
Missing any special occasion: My dad’s birthday and he doesn’t know yet that I am going in the Jungle!
Relationship status: Has a girlfriend.
Radio 1 presenter, Adele Roberts, readily admits she will fall to pieces if she spots a spider around the Jungle campfire. Adele – who has hosted the BBC’s early morning show for more than four years – says her phobia of the eight-legged insect is so bad that she has to have cedar blocks around her house to prevent them from daring to enter it.
“I’ve only camped once and that was the worst night of my life,” she reveals. “I hate spiders. If I see one, I can’t speak, I freeze and I do this weird thing where I wring my hands together!
“I don’t know where it has come from but as I have got older, I have hated them more and it has now got to the point where I have to have cedar blocks in my house!”
“I am not too fussed about anything else but I have never even met a snake and so I don’t know how I am going to react! It’s the same with rats. On paper, they are cute but in real life they might be massive!”
Phobias: Cotton-wool and I won’t like trials in the dark.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I am always referred to as Martin Kemp’s son so it would be nice for everyone to get to know me a bit better.
Role in the camp: The person who will do all the jobs nobody wants to do.
Miss most: My parents and my girlfriend.
Dream camper: Thierry Henry – I am a massive Arsenal fan!
Missing any special occasion: Other than my breakfast show, Capital Radio’s Jingle Bell ball. I have never ever missed it before.
Relationship status: Dating.
A huge fan of 'I’m a Celebrity', Roman says he wants to throw himself into every aspect of the show – whether that is helping with the jobs nobody wants to do like fetching fire wood or cleaning out the dunny.
“I am not scared of the eating trials because I grew up with Dad’s cooking! I think the eating ones I will hate but I will do them. The show is iconic and you want to do everything.”
His Dad is, of course, Martin Kemp. Roman’s mum is Shirlie Kemp. So what do they think of their son taking part in I’m a Celebrity?
“My Dad loves it,” replies Roman. “He is ready to find the worst freeze frame possible of my face and put it out on social media! Mum will say she hates it up until the day I get in there. Once she sees the show, understands it and grasps I am in there, I think she will be alright. She is really nervous though!”
“But I love this programme so much. I love it when it kicks off with the first show and you see Ant and Dec arrive.
“I will be happy to get rid of social media but the thing I will miss most is speaking to my parents and my girlfriend.”