I’m a celebrity who’s terrified of heights... get me down from here
CONQUERING fear is a must for any I’m A Celebrity contestant.
But one star has already failed at the first hurdle – and before they even set foot in the jungle camp.
Gogglebox star Babatunde Aleshe was unable to overcome his terror of heights in the show’s regular walk the plank task yesterday. The challenge, which has been revamped and renamed The Ledge, involves walking out on planks suspended from a 32storey building overlooking Australia’s Gold Coast.
But Aleshe, 34, deliberated over the task for 45 minutes before pulling out – after watching co-stars Jill Scott and Charlene White complete the challenge. ‘Babetunde was really struggling during The Ledge and everyone felt for him,’ an onlooker told The Sun. Jill and Charlene were being really encouraging of Babetunde but to no avail. ‘He stood there thinking and willing himself to do it for almost an hour but in the end he chose not to do it.’ Strapped into safety harnesses, former England footballer Miss Scott, 35, and ITV News presenter Miss White, 42, both completed the challenge and received a huge round of applause as the end of the ledge tipped and they dropped down on ropes, leaving them dangling in the air.
In previous years, celebrities have been tasked with competing for luxury goods when they enter camp by walking towards a star at the end of the platform. This year’s contestants will face a record 24 bushtucker trials across 21 shows. It was revealed on Tuesday that former health secretary Matt Hancock is also heading to the Australian jungle as a surprise late arrival with comedian Seann Walsh.
The first episode of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is on ITV tomorrow at 9pm.