New jungle celebrities warned of nasty surprises
The 10 names heading into the jungle for the fifth instalment of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! Were announced yesterday.
Carol Thatcher has confessed that she has not even told her mother, former British Prime Minister Lady Thatcher, that she’s about to star in the ITV reality show.
The 52-year-old journalist will rough it in the Australian rainforest with ex-Atomic Kitten singer Jenny Frost, 27, two former EastEnders actors Elaine Lordan, 39, and Sid Owen, 33, and the wine expert Jilly Goolden, 48.
Ex-Blue singer Antony Costa, 24, entertainer Jimmy Osmond, 42, antiques expert David Dickinson, 64, Kimberley Davies, 32, who played Annalise Hartman in Neighbours, and Emmerdale star Sheree Murphy, 30, have also signed up for the ratings-winner.
The celebrities are already said to be at each other’s throats over pay deals for appearing on the two-week show, with Frost reported to be receiving £100,000 (€147,000) - four times the payments to some of the other contestants.
Today, Thatcher said: “I promise I won’t be the Iron Lady Junior.
“I haven’t told my mother. I think she’ll think ’Rather her than me’.
“I think she’ll probably be very critical – I can’t say it’s her sort of show so I might just tell her that I’ve done it when I get back.”
Producers have promised the most absurd, unusual and horrific set of Bushtucker Trials on the show, which begins on Sunday.
Co-executive producer Richard Cowles said: “This year I’m A Celebrity … is all about surprises.
“From the moment the celebrities step into the helicopter and set off for camp they shouldn’t take anything for granted and they can expect things to be a lot tougher than anything they saw in previous years.
“It’s been a year since the last series aired and in that time the wildlife has definitely reclaimed its territory; as we prepared for the celebrities’ arrival we have found countless spiders and snakes in camp – including two deadly Rough Scales.
“And the surprises won’t end in camp as we have some of the biggest, scariest and, in one or two cases, most ridiculous trials ever waiting to greet this year’s cast.”
Contestants on the show, presented by Ant and Dec, have included journalist Janet Street-Porter, glamour model Jordan and her now husband Peter Andre, broadcaster Jennie Bond and former royal butler Paul Burrell.
Previous winners have included ex-Atomic Kitten Kerry McFadden, comedian Joe Pasquale, former England cricketer Phil Tufnell and DJ Tony Blackburn.
Sheree Murphy is 3-1 favourite to win the show, followed by Sid Owen at 4-1.
Carol Thatcher and Jilly Goolden are both at 33-1, according to bookmakers Paddy Power.
