I’m A Celebrity is said to already be in talks to sign their first star to enter the jungle, with an Emmerdale legend’s name in the rumour mill.
Lisa Riley – or, on the Dales, Mandy Dingle herself – is reportedly in talks with ITV to finally enter the jungle after years of turning the programme down.
The 49-year-old is said to be in ‘advanced negotiations’ with the producers on the programme and so could be taking a trip Down Under fairly soon.
Riley has admitted in previous years that the production asks her to be on the reality show year in, year out, but she always turns them down.
However, a TV insider told The Sun she is the ‘perfect’ celebrity for the show to go for, since she’s on a show watched by millions that is also on ITV.
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The source told the publication: ‘She also has a naughty, mischievous sense of humour which is guaranteed to get a big response from her other celebrity campmates during their time in the jungle.’
However, in previous years, it was her work on Emmerdale that seemed to be the reason she didn’t say yes to entering the jungle.
‘I love playing Mandy so much, that’s why I keep turning down other good roles. They offer me I’m A Celebrity every year and every year I say no!’, the actress said in an interview.
‘They dangle that big carrot every year. I’ve always said “no”, but the older I get…’ Lisa teased during a chat with the Daily Star. ‘I always go, “Cor, I’m getting old.” But in my head, I always feel like I’m 19, I’m never going to change who I am. But maybe if there was a milestone like my 50th. Then maybe.’
And, hey presto, Riley is set to turn 50 next summer, so this year might end up being the right one for her – and she’s already discussed how she thinks she would fare in the Bushtucker Trials.
‘I think I could cope. If you ask anyone at Emmerdale, I’m a coper,’ she insisted, adding, ‘I don’t know if that’s good telly. I think I’d be quite boring.’
Would the bugs or spiders bother her? ‘I actually wouldn’t mind those. I would just be so bored in there. I have so much energy from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. Being sat in camp all day would send me crazy. I would need to be stimulated all the time.
‘I’d be my usual confident self. I’d be doing dance routines around the fire. I think you put me in a tank of cockroaches, I could probably do that okay.’
Metro contacted Lisa Riley’s representative for comment.
I’m A Celebrity returns to ITV later this year.
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