Ulrika leads celebrity Fame Academy team
TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson will head the new intake of students at the Celebrity Fame Academy, it was confirmed today.
Jonsson is one of nine stars who will showcase their talents – or lack of them - in aid of Comic Relief.
The rest are Cold Feet star John Thomson, comic Ruby Wax and Jo Brand, Casualty favourites Will Mellor and Kwame Kwei-Armah, This Morning presenter Paul Ross and the Saturday Show’s Fearne Cotton.
There is also a mystery student whose identity will be revealed later this week.
But while all nine celebrities are hoping to enter the Academy, only eight will make it.
The fun begins this Friday when the hopefuls perform on a live BBC1 show and the public vote for their favourite.
The seven celebrities with the most votes are guaranteed a place in the Academy. They must then pick one of the remaining two to join them and the other will be sent packing.
The week-long show will be hosted by Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty and the students will be put through their paces by the same Academy team led by headteacher Richard Park.
Each night the three worse performing students will be put up for eviction and one will get the boot, until the winner is chosen on next Friday’s show which forms part of Red Nose Night on March 14.
Famous faces will drop in to give tips on how to be a success: Andrew Lloyd Webber to guide them through a group performance, boxer Audley Harrison and England rugby star Laurence Dallaglio to test their fitness levels, and hypnotist Paul McKenna to help them overcome any stage fright.
Hairdresser Nicky Clarke will give the students a makeover and they will be rewarded for their hard work with a gourmet meal cooked by celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott.
Celebrity Fame Academy will be shown on BBC1 and BBC3. Money from each vote will be donated to Comic Relief.
