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Celebs back in the jungle

Another winter means another series of I'm A Celeb, TV's toughest entertainm­ent challenge, in which stars leave their plush pads and luxuries far behind to live for three weeks in the Australian jungle. Georgia Humphreys has the rundown on this year's con

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The drama has well and truly kicked off in the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! jungle.

Now in its 18th series, the reality show has a new presenter this year, with Holly Willoughby appearing alongside Declan Donnelly, while his usual sidekick Ant McPartlin takes a break from TV work.

But one thing certainly hasn't changed from previous series - it's an eclectic mix of celebritie­s who have been thrown together in the camp Down Under, where a whole host of brand new nasty surprises have been created just for them.

As the competitio­n to be crowned King or Queen of the jungle heats up, the Bushtucker trials get tougher and the risk of rows gets higher.

Here's a look at the contestant­s vying for our votes this year.

Emily Atack, 28

WHAT ARE THEY FAMOUS FOR? Actress, best known for roles in The Inbetweene­rs and Dad's Army. WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO SEE

Atack is known for doing hilarious impression­s (a video of her impersonat­ing Love Island stars went viral in the summer), so watch out for those. She's also single and open to finding love in the jungle, so perhaps we could have another I'm A Celeb romance on our hands.

"We are in a situation where we're all not going to smell our best, nor look our best, and I can't really imagine it happening, but hey, who knows?!" she says.

"It's a bit of fun!"

Sair Khan, 30

WHAT ARE THEY FAMOUS FOR?

Playing Alya Nazir in ITV soap Coronation Street. WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO SEE?

Who the real Khan is - she says her stern, uptight Corrie character is very different from her real self.

"I am such a goof, I am always laughing, being cheeky and I don't take myself too seriously.

"If they don't like her [Ayla], that's fine, as it is a character. But if they don't like me, then that will be hard to take."

James McVey, 24

WHAT ARE THEY FAMOUS FOR? Being a member of pop group, The Vamps. WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO SEE?

McVey describes himself as a "mediator" and so we reckon he'll be able to resolve any arguments that may end up happening.

"I would like people to see me as a nice and considerat­e person," notes the singer.

"Even though we do loads of interviews, you don't really get to see much of someone's genuine personalit­y. By watching someone around the clock, it will come out a bit more of who I am."

Anne Hegerty, 60

WHAT ARE THEY FAMOUS FOR?

Quiz show The Chase, in which she is known as "The Governess". WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO SEE?

You'd imagine, from her no-nonsense approach on The Chase, that Hegerty would keep her other campmates in line. And she admits her role in camp is likely to be the "well-meaning but incompeten­t mum", even if she is actually very different to The Governess in real life. She elaborates: "I am going to miss the peace and quiet and I am going to be way out of The Governess' comfort zone in all of this. I will come across a lot more nervous than I do on the show."

Fleur East, 31

WHAT ARE THEY FAMOUS FOR? She's a former X Factor star (she starred in the 2014 series). WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO SEE? The Sax singer promises she will bring fun to the camp: "I have got quite a wild imaginatio­n, and so I think I'll create some weird games to entertain everyone."

"I wouldn't like people to be moaning all the time," she adds. "I don't want them to focus on all the negatives."

Harry Redknapp, 71

WHAT IS HE FAMOUS FOR?

He's the former manager of football clubs Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham. WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO SEE?

With his resume, we're expecting strong leadership skills. And Redknapp reckons being in the jungle can't be tougher than being in charge of a football team when things aren't going well.

"When the results are bad, believe you me, being a manager is a very tough, lonely occupation.

You feel responsibl­e however many people support your team every week. The buck stops with you."

John Barrowman, 51

WHAT ARE THEY FAMOUS FOR? Starring in Doctor Who and spin-off Torchwood. WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO SEE?

Not that we enjoy watching stars scared senseless (OK, maybe we do...) but there could be a few squeals from Barrowman if he has to do a trial that involves small spaces.

Recalling a scene in Torchwood which they filmed in a coffin, he says: "It was seethrough and so I could see space, but I couldn't do it. I had a panic.

"That might be the challenge that is most fearful for me. But realistica­lly, you know they are not going to do anything that hurts you."

Rita Simons, 41

WHAT ARE THEY FAMOUS FOR? Playing Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders for 10 years. WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO SEE?

Simons likes a challenge, and we reckon she will be a strong character in the jungle. But she admits she's really going to miss her husband and two daughters.

"My kids would be gutted if I didn't do it," she says. "And my husband thinks I should get on and do it like I do with everything in life. But it's going to be so weird not being able to talk to them."

Nick Knowles, 56

WHAT ARE THEY FAMOUS FOR? Presenting TV shows, such as DIY SOS. WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO SEE? Knowles will definitely be helping out with the physical side of living in a camp. "If there was an opportunit­y, I would like to make a mark," he says when asked if he would relish the chance of building something new for the I'm A Celeb jungle. "But I don't think there is going to be the material or tools to do it, so it's unlikely!"

Malique Thompson-Dwyer, 20

WHAT ARE THEY FAMOUS FOR? Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks he portrays Prince McQueen. WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO SEE?

Lots of energy. He's the youngest in the show, and is keen to throw himself into lots of trials, even if they will be terrifying.

"For me, eating testicles is going to be the worse. I am quite picky with my food, so that's going to be hard!"

And one more thing there's the addition of ex-Deal Or No Deal presenter Noel Edmonds, who has emerged as a surprise campmate. Bring it on...

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 ??  ?? Fleur East Watch I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! every night on ITV
Fleur East Watch I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! every night on ITV

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