Exclusive
Reality Check
Fake rocks, overhead canopies and security to stop us escaping – Jane Moore reveals I’m A Celebrity’s biggest secrets
Jane's wild I’m A Celeb journey proves that the jungle truly delivers the unexpected
NABBING myself a camp-bed I set about getting the fire started with the flint provided, then went to check out the infamous “dunny” positioned about 20 metres away up a small pathway.
It was as grim as I expected, with two resident Huntsman spiders on the hessian walls — one of them the size of a baby’s hand.
7
7
“They’re harmless. And they keep the nasty funnel-webs away,” said one of the security team positioned a few metres outside camp at all times. (Not, one suspects, to keep intruders at bay, but to stop any rebellious campmates from escaping.)
The camp is situated near to Springbrook National Park in New South Wales.
Despite a few fake rocks housing multiple cameras, the setting is very much real, along with all the wildlife that comes with it.
There were few concessions to make our camp life easier, apart from a retractable overhead canopy to protect the fire area.
read more on Jane Moore
So when it became the wettest I’m A Celebrity ever thanks to constant, torrential rain, a river of water ran through camp and we spent days just recycling damp clothes that simply would not dry.
Our beds got wet too, but we had sturdy tarpaulin sleeping bags to shield ourselves under.
The jungle days always started with a Hi-de-Hi!-style wake up call over the camp’s Tannoy at what we guessed was around 5.30am.
I invariably rose first (thanks, bladder) and would trek up to the Bush Telegraph to collect the day’s supply of drearily tasteless rice and beans, before re-starting the fire so the allocated chef could cook breakfast before the daily visit from Ant and Dec at approximately 7.45am jungle time (9.45pm in the UK).
Most read in Reality
Then that day’s Bush Tucker Trial victim would head off to their fate while the rest of us found ways to fill the painfully looooooong day.
For my part, I’d brave the freezing cold shower (yuck), do my chores and instigate conversation with my fellow campmates, all of whom had fascinating life stories to tell.
Jane Moore reveals famous friend she wants to go on I'm A Celebrity - saying they're a 'disrupter' who would wind everyone up
It felt a privilege to gain their trust.
We also learned the Charleston and Salsa with Strictly’s Oti Mabuse, played charades and “Olympicsticks” (a throwing game using twigs initiated by McFly’s Danny Jones), threw hoops that Corrie’s Alan Halsall had made from leaves, and Reverend Richard Coles and I did a pub quiz for everyone. We had a lot of fun.
I felt privileged
The people (750 crew and fellow campmates) were what made I’m A Celebrity such a special experience, even when being transported to trials like hostages in vans with blacked-out windows, so we wouldn’t see any future sets along the way.
Given that less than 300 people have been invited to take part since the show started in 2002, I felt privileged to be there.
Jane's Jungle Awards
- Kindest campmate - Oti Mabuse
- Most upbeat - Dean McCullough
- Most cerebral - Rev Richard Coles
- Funniest - Maura Higgins and GK Barry
- Chattiest - Danny Jones
- Hardest working - Coleen Rooney, Barry McGuigan and Melvin Odoom
- Most resourceful - Alan Halsall
- Most resilient - Tulisa Contostavlos
- Winner prediction - Coleen Rooney
No one else understands how physically and mentally challenging it is, nor the intensity of the highs and lows.
So the bond you share is unique and I know I will remain in touch with the cast of 2024 forever.
7
7
7
7
7
Topics