Comedian and mental health advocate Ruby Wax is preparing to manufacture 'fake friendships' while competing on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, openly admitting she employs the same tactic in her everyday life.
The 'Fake It To Make It' Philosophy
In an exclusive interview just days before flying to Australia for the ITV series, Wax elaborated on her social strategy. She explained that while her work in theatres often surrounds her with people, she is highly selective about who earns a permanent place in her inner circle.
The 72-year-old, who has authored books on mindfulness and battling depression, stated: "Yeah. Well, you can feel it. You know when somebody's sucking your energy." She clarified her approach, saying, "I'll give my contact, but they're out of my address book. You know what I'm saying?"
Wax directly referenced her now-famous phrase, confirming her intentions for the jungle: "I know we're finished, but just out of human courtesy, I'll keep my eyes open and look real interested. I mean, fake it to make it. I don't want everybody taking my energy. And so again, mindfulness."
Dividing Opinion From The Start
Ruby Wax has already caused a stir amongst viewers since her entrance into the camp. Her behaviour towards fellow contestant Angry Ginge on the opening show immediately split fans.
During the premiere, Wax was seen asking him to move out of her light and poking fun at his name. When co-star Alex Scott asked what they should call him, Angry Ginge offered "Ginge or Morgan." Wax retorted, "We'll never call you that."
Upon learning his surname was Burtwistle, she quipped, "Oh, I see why you changed it. It's so not cool." She later instructed him to "get out of [her] way" in front of the cameras, joking, "Don't ever in this show get in my way. Do you understand? Especially when there's a light. You're in my light again. I'll just be moving you throughout the show, okay?"
The reaction on social media platform X was swift and divided. While some viewers found her humour refreshing, one user wrote, "Good god Ruby might be the rudest celeb I've ever seen on this show #ImACeleb," with others calling for her to be removed from the programme.
Mental Health and the Modern Jungle
Wax's commentary on social interaction extends beyond reality TV. Speaking on the Extraordinary Life Stories podcast earlier in November, she used jungle analogies to discuss modern mental health challenges.
She analysed the human condition, stating, "I mean, we're Velcro for negative thoughts and positive, teflon for positive. It's just the way we are because for survival, we had to really be on our toes and be paranoid. Like an animal looking around to see, is it a snake? Is it a stick?"
She explained that the human brain's amygdala struggles to differentiate between prehistoric dangers and modern social anxieties. "Now we have language, which is a curse and a blessing. And instead of looking around for danger, our little amygdala can't tell the difference between real danger or 'did John not call me? Why has nobody invited me to the party? Do you think I'm a loser?'. You know, language is, we're substituting real fear of what's in the bushes."
I'm A Celebrity continues airing Sunday to Friday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
