CELEBS CAN DO SUMMIT SPECIAL

AND they’re off! The nine celebs trekking for Comic Relief started their challenge yesterday.

The team will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – reaching an altitude of 9,383ft.

Shirley Ballas, Ed Balls, Anita Rani, Dani Dyer, Alexander Armstrong, Dan Walker, Osi Umenyiora, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock were nervous as they prepared to head off.

Strictly judge Shirley said: “The nerves are very real now.

I can tell already that I’m going to be mother hen on this mountain.

“I’ll be the person that if somebody’s short of a wet wipe, or if somebody needs a little bit of help, I will be going over.”

And Pointless host Alexander said: “What I’ve realised today is I really do have a fear of heights. That might prove to be a slight obstacle!”

Countryfile’s Anita has called on the public to dig deep and donate to this year’s Comic Relief appeal.

She said: “It’s eight days of the unknown and we’re just going to have to go for it, including going to the toilet on the side of a mountain.

“I’m prepared to do that if you give generously to Comic Relief this year. We need your support.”

The journey comes 10 years after stars including Gary Barlow last climbed the mountain in Tanzania for Comic Relief.

This new team will face an even tougher route and spend more time at high altitude.

Footage of the trek will air in a one-hour special in the run-up to Red Nose Day on March 15.

You can donate online at comicrelief.com/kilimanjaro.