Lisa Riley has revealed the heartbreaking reason she decided to take part in the new series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. The Emmerdale star, 49, who plays Mandy Dingle, said the deaths of her mother in 2012 and her best friend, Strictly professional Robin Windsor, last year gave her the strength to overcome her fears.
Speaking about her motivation, Riley said: 'I lost my best friend not so long ago and mum got diagnosed at the age of 48 (with breast cancer), I’m 49. Nothing can be as bad as that in life and I have got to see if I can do it. Every day is a blessing and I want to really enjoy everything.'
The actress, who first appeared on the ITV soap in 1995, admitted her biggest fears in the jungle are rats, confined spaces and the dark. However, she remains upbeat, saying: 'I am a Dingle I can cope with anything…we did Dingles Down Under many years ago and I feel it’s only right we do it again.'
Riley was seen arriving at Brisbane Airport earlier this week, pushing her luggage ahead of the show's launch on Sunday, November 16. She joins a line-up that includes Loose Women star Kelly Brook, YouTube star Angry Ginge and rapper Aitch.
In other news, This Morning's Alison Hammond is reportedly preparing to return to the Australian jungle 15 years after her first stint, this time for the spin-off programme Unpacked.
