Enjoy the celebs eating raw fish eyes – it’ll help you forget Trump’s win
IN a world where Donald Trump can be voted US President, we all need something to smile about.
So three cheers for the return of I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here! It never fails to make me laugh.
Unlike a lot of other reality shows, this one displays no signs of running out of ideas and, fourteen years after the first series, remains as popular as ever.
Most of the credit for that must go to the wonderful Ant and Dec, who are genuinely funny and make live TV look easy.
Tony Blackburn was the first king of the jungle back in 2002.
By and large, the kings and queens have generally been a pretty decent bunch.
The loud show-offs, those with an agenda and the genuine fruit loops are usually voted out fairly quickly.
Previous winners include Phil Tufnell, Joe Pasquale, Joe Swash, Stacey Solomon and Vicky Pattison, who triumphed last year.
Big characters like David Gest, Lady Colin Campbell, Edwina Currie and Esther Rantzen may generate headlines and be fascinating and entertaining to watch, but they rarely win the public vote.
Like almost everyone else on TV I have been asked to appear on the show but I would never, ever venture into the jungle.
While I love to watch, I wouldn’t
like to appear in a anything where you are at the mercy of the editor, and I have no desire to eat the eye of a fish.
I couldn’t cope with an avalanche of cockroaches and creepy-crawlies, but I think the main ordeal would be dealing with the other contestants.
In such close proximity, having to cope with all those egos and annoying habits would drive me crazy.
Of course you could also make some friends for life, but I’m afraid I’d rather be on this side of the TV.
Although, all the contestants I’ve spoken to say it was one of the best experiences of their lives, so maybe I am missing out.
This week I had a chat with Spandau Ballet singer, Tony Hadley, who was on last year’s show and had some blistering arguments with Lady Colin.
Despite the squabbling, he said he loved being on the show and was honest enough to admit he went in to give his solo career a boost, which really worked.
Off the back of I’m A Celebrity he had a successful album and tour and has no regrets about being involved.
Jake Quickenden, who bounced into the jungle two years ago after appearing on X Factor, found romance on the show. He was runner-up to Carl Fogarty, the former world superbike champion and the two became firm friends.
Foggy introduced Jake to his daughter, Danielle, they fell in love and have been a couple ever since.
So it can be a life-enhancing and life-changing experience.
This year, we are promised even tougher challenges for the cannon fodder who are currently sitting in the jungle waiting for the first show to go out tonight.
I reckon the ones to watch include fearless Carol Vorderman and lovely Scarlett Moffatt from Gogglebox.
Larry Lamb should have good stories to tell around the campfire and Lisa Snowdon will look incredible in a bikini.
Whatever happens, one thing is certain – I’ll be glued to the box for the next few weeks and my social life will grind to a halt.