BY JASON WRIGHT
IN SEPTEMBER 2002, ITV took over ownership of a rainforest jungle in Australia and with it, launching a new reality show; I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in which famous faces, most of which sometimes use the show to revive their ailing careers are forced to spend two weeks (or three since 2006) together ambushed in the wilderness and having to complete challenging and usually disgusting tasks to win food and luxuries for camp.
Towards the end of the series, the celebrities are eliminated one by one by the viewing public, like a standard eviction on Big Brother. The last celebrity standing is the winner and is honourably crowned as either the King or Queen of the Jungle. To date, there have been nine winners: radio DJ Tony Blackburn (2002), cricketer Phil Tufnell (2003), singer Kerry Katona (Winter 2004), comedian Joe Pasquale (Autumn 2004), socialist Carol Thatcher (2005), singer Matt Willis (2006), comedian and actor Christopher Biggins (2007), soap actor Joe Swash (2008) and most recently, chef Gino D’Acampo last year.
Despite having received strong criticism in recent times that it usually employs celebrities that many have hardly heard of, it is still one of ITV1’s most popular programmes, usually raking in around eight million viewers per series and since the second 2004 series, it has become a stable place in the channel’s autumn/winter line-up.
This Sunday sees the launch of the tenth series. Here is a lowdown of who is prepared to swap luxury for the trials and tribulations of jungle life this time around. (Bookmaker’s odds to win are sourced by William Hill from November 11 2010)
Aggro Santos
Age: 22
Famous for: Solo singer and music producer
Known Phobias: Insects and Heights
Aggro may be little known to those who like music but has enjoyed success in R&B music and is still doing so today. Being single, he obviously hopes to strike up a relationship with one of his fellow campmates. Despite his fear of heights, Aggro claims he can keep cool under pressure and also hates cooking.
Bookmakers Odds: 16-1
Britt Ekland
Age: 68
Famous for: Starring in the Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun
Known Phobias: None
In recent times, I’m A Celebrity has resorted to getting Hollywood icons into the jungle and this year is no exception. A legendary film actress with several big roles under her belt, including assistant to James Bond, Britt is prepared to take on everything. She doesn’t claim to have any fears, instead relying on just what is inside.
Bookmakers Odds: 16-1
Gillian McKeith
Age: 51
Famous for: Presenter of You Are What You Eat
Known Phobias: Snakes, Water and Heights
A nutrient expert, Gillian became very popular as the host of the long running Channel 4 show, You Are What You Eat and is also an occasional panellist on ITV1’s lunchtime show, Loose Women. She is perhaps the celebrity out of the group with the most fears but she does aim to put it behind her and conquer her fears.
Bookmakers Odds: 20-1 joint outsider
Kayla Collins
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| PLAYBOY: What Kayla will feature the most? |
Age: 23
Famous for: Model for Playboy magazine
Known Phobias: Eating bugs and Spiders
A last minute replacement for TV presenter Gail Porter, who has said to have dropped out on ‘personal reasons’, Kayla is aiming to become the stand-out celebrity of the pack. Having done plenty of modelling work in the US, including for Playboy magazine, there’s no doubt Kayla will be a feisty character and will ruffle a few feathers. However, she claims to also try and make peace in the camp too. How will these claims balance out will just have to be seen.
Bookmakers Odds: 16-1
Lembit Opik
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| TRIALS: Expect Lembit to face lots of these in week one |
Age: 45
Famous for: Member of Parliament
Known Phobias: Spiders
Lembit is most certainly one of the most talked about MP’s of recent times. A member of the Liberal Democrats, his time in Westminster came to end when he lost his seat in the House of Commons in this year’s general election. He has though had his critics from the form of the public, being a politician of course, so expect him to be voted to do several Bushtucker Trials in the first week. He will want to ultimately aim to get the people who despise him onto his side.
Bookmakers Odds: 10-1
Linford Christie
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| REPUTATION: Linford will be looking to restore it |
Age: 50
Famous for: European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic champion in 100 metres
Known Phobias: None
Linford was a great force to be reckoned with in athletics throughout the 90s, which included winning gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona but his time also courted controversy such as being disqualified for a false start in the Atlanta ’96 Olympic final and four years later he failed a drugs test. Now he hopes to bring his experience of competitiveness to the jungle and claims not to be scared of anything. Bookmakers Odds: 10-1
Nigel Havers
Age: 59
Famous for: Drama actor
Known Phobias: None
Nigel has been through some of the best roles on television in his distinguished career, including most recently, a guest stint on Coronation Street. He reckons that by going into jungle, people will get to see the real him and that he can have a go at anything that is thrown at him. He could well be a person that surprises experts and does well inside.
Bookmakers Odds: 6-1
Shaun Ryder
Age: 48
Famous for: Member of the band, Happy Mondays
Known Phobias: Water and Flying
Considering that he does have a fear of flying, it’s very brave that Shaun has committed himself to the challenge. As part of the group Happy Mondays, Shaun enjoyed chart success back in the 90s and is one of those just hoping a show like this will send him straight back into the spotlight.
Bookmakers Odds: 9-2
Sheryl Gascoigne
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| SPOTLIGHT: Sheryl likes the attention, will it feature here? |
Age: 45
Famous for: Formerly married to Paul Gascoigne
Known Phobias: Crabs
Sheryl is well known to those who follow football, having been married to Paul Gascoigne for several years until divorcing the ex-Newcastle & Rangers star last year. She is just relenting on being a sort of a mother figure in the camp, helping out people and trying to keep peace inside the jungle. Her phobia of crabs is very strange as there aren’t many in the Australian jungle so this should give a perfect opportunity to see what else could scare her.
Bookmakers Odds: 20-1 joint outsider
Stacey Solomon
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| KICKSTART; Will this launch Stacey's career? |
Age: 21
Famous for: Finishing third in The X Factor last year
Known Phobias: Insects and the Dark
Ask anybody at the start of last year if they knew Stacey Solomon and nobody would have a clue. Stacey’s great vocals, and habit for being such a chatterbox, meant she become a popular figure on The X Factor, making it all the way to the final. Things haven’t really taken off since then but if she can overcome nerves and stick to her own character, this could be the kick she needs to get her career up and running.
Bookmakers Odds: 2-1 favourite
Once again, there is a mixed bag of celebrities ranging from the most popular to the unknown. Of course, they may not be the only ones in the jungle as the show producers will not only have tricks up their sleeves again but they will surely bring in another one or two celebrities into the game later on the first week, the identities of which, are of course being kept a secret.
It all begins Sunday at 9:00pm , live on ITV1 and ITV1 HD.
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