AJ Odudu has admitted she is "terrified" about entering the Australian jungle as part of the new series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, which kicks off next week.
The 38-year-old TV presenter, known for hosting Big Brother, is among eleven celebrities on this year's opening line-up for the ITV competition. The Blackburn-born star has arrived in Australia ahead of stepping into camp and shared a heartfelt message with fans before departing.
'I've been lying through my teeth'
On her Instagram story, AJ said: "I'm freaking out. Let me tell you, I have been avoiding my friends, dodging press interviews, lying through my teeth. And now you know why, because I'm heading Down Under. I am so excited. I love this show, I've wanted to do it for the longest time, so I'm like, 'bring it on,'" reports the Daily Star.
She added: "But I'm also so terrified. I'm from Blackburn, so I'm used to a bit of rain, but I'm not used to snakes falling out of the sky onto my head; that's gonna freak me out. And have you seen the size of those spiders? My word! They're unnecessarily huge. I am ready to take on the challenge, I think, but I'm also really petrified."
Fans rally behind the presenter
The former Strictly Come Dancing star joked: "If you see me crying over a cockroach on the TV, no, you didn't. Mind your business."
While many viewers are backing Wayne Rooney as a frontrunner to win this series, AJ has a substantial fanbase offering support on social media. One Instagram commenter wrote: "Winner right there," while another said: "LOVE! ! ! ! our winner x." A further viewer commented: "I think she's gonna be quite funny."
A fourth fan posted: "I'm sure she is gonna be hilarious in the trials," and another enthused: "LURRRRVE HER. Her energy- if you could bottle it and sell it? I'd buy it. She's definitely my winner. I wasn't even going to watch this year, but I'll have to now."
Game plan and cast line-up
Before joining the programme, AJ shared her strategy with ITV: "In the run-up, I've been indulging, carb loading, drinking coffee and enjoying every treat. I'm going to go cold turkey when I enter camp - that's my tactic! I am going to take each day as it comes. I am feeling both excited and nervous."
Other notable 2026 cast members include former Love Islander Chloe Burrows, YouTuber Sharky, real name Sharmarke Mohamud, and Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page. I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! starts Monday 16th November at 9pm on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.
