The highly anticipated 25th series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! has officially begun as the first celebrities touch down in Australia, giving viewers their first proper look at this year's diverse lineup of jungle contestants.
Jungle Bound: Stars Arrive Down Under
After last week's official lineup announcement, the famous faces have started arriving at Brisbane Airport, enjoying their final moments of luxury before facing the notorious Bushtucker Trials. The survival reality show, presented by veteran hosts Declan Donnelly, 50, and Ant McPartlin, 49, returns to ITV this coming Sunday, 16th November, promising another unforgettable series.
Among the early arrivals was model and Loose Women star Kelly Brook, 45, who looked glamorous in a £250 yellow and orange designer dress. When questioned about her presence in Australia, she played coy, telling reporters: "I'm just here to visit my Auntie Sheila" - the standard response from contestants who aren't allowed to confirm their participation officially.
Meet the 2024 Contestants
This year's lineup features an intriguing mix of television personalities, sports stars, musicians and social media influencers. Ruby Wax, 72, the acclaimed actress, comedian and mental health expert, confessed: "It hasn't actually sunk in that I am doing this, but I am really looking forward to meeting my fellow campmates." She revealed she'd previously turned down the opportunity but felt now was the right time for adventure.
Former footballer turned television presenter Alex Scott, 41, admitted her partner, singer Jess Glynne, thinks she's "absolutely mental" for taking on the challenge. Scott, who played for Arsenal and Great Britain, identified her shyness as her biggest challenge in the jungle environment.
Social media sensation AngryGinge (real name Morgan Burtwistle), a 23-year-old from Salford known for his football content on Twitch and YouTube, expressed his excitement about participating in what he called a "bucket list item." He admitted the prospect of being without his phone for several weeks would be "very educational."
Soap Stars and Music Legends
EastEnders alum Shona McGarty, who played Whitney Dean for 16 years until 2024, joked to reporters about having "got on the wrong flight" when spotted in Australia. She sees the experience as an opportunity to show her true self away from the character that defined her career.
Emmerdale favourite Lisa Riley, 49, revealed producers had asked her "numerous times before" but she finally agreed to celebrate several personal milestones, including approaching 50 and thirty years of playing Mandy Dingle.
Music legend Martin Kemp, 64 of Spandau Ballet fame, follows in the footsteps of his son Roman, who participated in 2019. Martin admitted he became "addicted" to watching his son's jungle journey and felt it was time for his own adventure.
The lineup also includes rapper Aitch (Harrison James Armstrong), comedian Eddie Kadi, 42 (a Strictly Come Dancing alumnus), and television personality Jack Osbourne, 39, who acknowledged the difficulty of being away from his family following his father Ozzy's recent passing.
Late Entries and Jungle Fears
In true I'm A Celebrity tradition, two late entries have been confirmed: Irish television personality Vogue Williams, 40, and Celebs Go Dating receptionist Tom Read Wilson, 38. They'll enter the jungle a week after the initial ten celebrities, following the pattern established in previous series.
The contestants revealed varied phobias that will undoubtedly be tested during their stay. While Aitch and Ruby Wax claim to fear nothing, others admitted to dreading spiders (AngryGinge and Jack Osbourne), heights (Alex Scott and Kelly Brook), rats (Martin Kemp and Lisa Riley), water (Shona McGarty), and all insects (Eddie Kadi).
As the celebrities settle into their final days of comfort before entering the jungle camp in Dungay, New South Wales, anticipation builds for what promises to be an explosive 25th anniversary series of Britain's favourite survival reality show.
