Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley has received a welcome reprieve ahead of her stint in the I'm A Celebrity jungle, as she will be exempt from one of the show's most gruelling challenges.
Dietary Exemption for Jungle Newcomer
The 49-year-old star, famous for playing Mandy Dingle, won't have to participate in the notorious eating Bushtucker Trials that often feature animal genitals, fish eyes, cockroaches and other unsettling delicacies. Her vegetarian lifestyle means producers will provide alternative tasks that respect her dietary requirements.
Lisa was among the first celebrities to arrive in Australia for the new series, touching down at Brisbane Airport alongside Loose Women presenter Kelly Brook. The first episode of the much-anticipated ITV show will air this Sunday at 9:00pm.
Previous Stars Who Avoided Eating Challenges
Lisa isn't the first celebrity to benefit from dietary exemptions on the popular reality show. Back in 2020, Coronation Street's Beverley Callard was excused from eating challenges because of her vegan diet. Similarly, The Vamps star James McVey didn't participate in such trials two years prior due to his vegetarianism.
The show has a history of accommodating contestants who don't eat meat, ensuring they face challenges appropriate to their dietary choices while still experiencing the jungle's hardships.
Why Lisa Signed Up for Jungle Adventure
Speaking before her departure, Lisa revealed her motivation for joining the show and demonstrated her readiness for the challenges ahead. 'Us northerners are made of tough skin,' she declared confidently at the airport.
She connected her jungle preparation to her long-running role on Emmerdale, stating: 'I have worked on a farm for many years on Emmerdale, so you know it's part of the job being Mandy Dingle, I suppose. I am just here to have fun and have a real good laugh.'
The actress also shared her family's support and her personal approach to the experience: 'My family are really rooting for me, they're really happy that I'm here. I'm fine with creepy crawlies, I've worked on a farm for many years so it's part of the job being Mandy Dingle.'
Despite her tough exterior, Lisa admitted to bringing some comforts from home, describing herself as 'such a girlie girl' who packed 'a lot of bling' and 'many options.'
New Voting Rules and Star-Studded Lineup
ITV bosses have implemented significant changes to the voting format for this year's series. According to insiders, celebrities who have been voted for two trials consecutively will be exempt from the following vote, preventing the repetitive targeting of particular contestants.
A television source explained the reasoning behind this change: 'It will be really good for the show. When celebrities get voted over and over again, it can be quite upsetting for them, the public gets bored or annoyed and the other contestants were becoming increasingly frustrated at missing out on air time.'
This adjustment follows last year's controversy when BBC radio host Dean McCullough faced seven consecutive Bushtucker Trials, leading to divided viewer opinions about whether other celebrities were missing opportunities for screen time.
Lisa will be joining a diverse camp including Kelly Brook, Ruby Wax (72), Martin Kemp (64), Jack Osbourne (40), rapper Aitch (25), content creator Angryginge (24), Alex Scott (41), Shona McGarty (34), and Eddie Kadi (42).
The new series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here begins this Sunday at 9:00pm on ITV, promising another season of drama, challenges and entertainment from the Australian jungle.
