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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Victoria Johns

Carol Vorderman says she nearly died in 'petrifying' I’m A Celebrity South Africa trial

Carol Vorderman said she nearly died while taking part in a trial for I'm A Celebrity...South Africa.

The mum-of-two, 62, is back on the show after making her debut in the jungle in Australia 16 years ago.

The Countdown queen is in great shape, but admitted one of the challenges she did on the show's spin-off almost killed her.

Speaking about her time in South Africa, Carol said: "She said: “Some of the trials are: "HOLY C**P! How did I live?!

“I’m not exaggerating. There was one trial that petrified me. And I’m not frightened of anything. I don’t think I’ve ever been as scared in my life.

Carol Vorderman said she nearly died while taking part in a trial for I'm A Celebrity...South Africa (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"And the b****rs took what we’d call a trial – I was thinking: ‘I can cope with that because I’ve done it before’ – and put it on speed. Everyone will love watching it. It was brutal," reports The Sun's TV mag.

Carol filmed the show last year at the Kruger National Park alongside campmates, including Shaun Ryder and Helen Flanagan.

Helen admitted she was "obsessed" with Carol, telling us: “I’m obsessed with Carol Vorderman. I really bonded with her. She is my girl crush. She’s amazing. I feel like she’s really empowering for women. She really inspires me.”

Carol met the 'first love of her life' in South Africa (Instagram)

Carol has been candid while in South Africa and told her campmates she'd met the first love of her life in the country.

Speaking about her former boss, Andy, she said: “I went to South Africa when I was 19. I met the first love of my life when I was working on an engineering construction site. My boss was 24 and we fell in love.

"His next job was in Botswana and I flew over. There were giraffes running around and I swam with Great White Sharks."

The show starts on Monday 24 April (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Since appearing on I'm A Celeb 16 years ago, Carol has amassed a loyal legion of fans, who have applauded her recent Twitter action in which she calls out 'unscrupulous politicians'.

Speaking about the effect the ITV franchise smash-hit has had on her, she said: “Doing I’m A Celebrity changed me a lot.

“It made me realise that I was missing many things I loved and within a short space of time after leaving the camp.

"You get to a point in life where you think everything is all a bonus. You can’t say ‘I will do that in 20 years' time’. It made me realise that you need to live in the now."

*I'm A Celebrity...South Africa starts on ITV on Monday at 9pm

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