A STRING of famous faces are returning to I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here! for its All Stars edition.
But far from fearing yet more horrible Bushtucker Trials, they happily accepted the invitation to go to South Africa — because the Aussie version of the show changed their lives.
American Ashley Roberts moved to the UK after appearing on the ITV favourite and got a job on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
The Pussycat Dolls singer said: “I didn’t know how much I’m A Celebrity was going to affect me.
“This show changed my life. I’ve lived in the UK ever since I left the jungle 14 years ago and that in itself is amazing, What a beautiful gift the programme gave me — and so I said ‘yes’.
It was the same story for Gogglebox’s Scarlett Moffatt, who also went on to work with I’m A Celeb’s hosts Ant and Dec.
She said: “I have everything to thank this show for.
“Doing Gogglebox was lovely, but I’m A Celebrity was the first programme I’d done on my own.
“I am forever grateful to Ant and Dec.
“When I first moved to London, they were so lovely and asked me what I missed most about being away from home.
“I said, ‘Sunday dinners with the family’. So they invited me round a few times to have dinner.”
Adam Thomas was on Emmerdale when he appeared in 2016 but was soon hosting I’m A Celeb spin-off Extra Camp and ITV game show 99 To Beat.
He said: “It was the first time I’d done anything as myself and people got to know me as me, rather than an acting role.
“I’m A Celebrity opened loads of doors for me and I don’t think I would be here today without this show.
“People got to know me and I have never looked back.”
And after Seann Walsh was caught snogging Strictly pro dancer Katya Jones while they were both in relationships, I’m A Celebrity resurrected the comedian’s career.
He said: “It changed my life in a very positive way. I was able to go back on tour again and sell out rooms again.”
For others, the change was subtler, with Eighties pop star Sinitta telling how the experience helped her find “Herculean strength”, and former boxer David Haye saying it allowed him to “detach from the noise of life”.
Coronation Street actress Beverley Callard revealed: “I do tend to suffer from low self-esteem.
“Without sounding big headed, people kept telling me they loved me and how down to earth I was, which gave me confidence.”
As for Sir Mo Farah, who only retired from long-distance running three years after his 2020 appearance, he is thrilled to get a second chance where he can finally chat freely.
Mo said: “Because I was still competing, you worry about what you can and can’t say. Now I’ve got nothing to prove and I can be more open.
“I can talk about things in more detail like the training I used to do for my running.”
Gemma Collins, Jimmy Bullard, Sir Harry Redknapp and Craig Charles will be late arrivals.
Here, the show’s stars reflect on their first stints as campmates and what might happen in South Africa.
- I’m A Celebrity . . . South Africa starts Bank Holiday Monday at 9pm on ITV1 and airs every week night.
MO FARAH -Olympian
5th in 2020
MO says: “One of my best memories was trying to do a Phil Mitchell impression!
“I’d love to win as I came fifth last time – that was hard.”
SCARLETT MOFFATT – TV personality
1st, 2016
SCARLETT says: “Ant and Dec are legends. I wish I could bottle the euphoric feeling of being announced winner and give it out.”
SEANN WALSH -Comedian
5th, 2022
SEANN says: “Being a late entry with Matt Hancock was just so surreal.
“I was laughing for about half an hour.”
ADAM THOMAS – Actor
3rd, 2016
ADAM says: “The last time I did this, I said I would never leave my wife again – but here I am! The kids really wanted me to do it.”
CRAIG CHARLES – Actor & DJ
Withdrew day four, 2014
CRAIG says: “I just want a bit of adventure. The last time it was cruelly cut short because my brother Dean passed away.”
ASHLEY ROBERTS Pop star and DJ
2nd, 2012
ASHLEY says: “I’ve got my swimsuits ready.
“First time round I was nervous to strip everything off – no lashes, make-up or extensions.”
HARRY REDKNAPP Football legend
1st, 2018
HARRY said: “I have a pal in camp as I signed Jimmy Bullard when I was managing West Ham.
“We paid about £20,000 for him.”
BEVERLEY CALLARD – Corrie favourite
10th, 2020
BEVERLEY says: “Everyone got on so well on my original series.
“We’ve got a WhatsApp group and we go out to dinner together.”
SINITTA – Pop icon
11th, 2011
SINITTA says: “It’s like a crazy retreat.
“Not having our phones was a complete detox. I hope this time will be like an epiphany for me.”
JIMMY BULLARD Ex-footballer
10th, 2014
JIMMY says: “The camp was as close as I’ve been to a changing room since I left football.
“I loved it, but there were some dark times.”
GEMMA COLLINS – TV personality
Withdrew day four, 2014
GEMMA says: “This is total redemption for me. I just thought, I have to go back into that jungle. I was absolutely bricking it.”
DAVID HAYE – Ex-boxing champ
3rd, 2012
DAVID says: “A lot of boxers are badly injured, so unless you get savaged by a lion – which won’t happen – how bad can it be?”
