Coronation Street star Beverley Callard wants to be queen of the jungle and fly the flag for older women.
Being 63 is not going to stop Beverley, known to millions as Rovers Return barmaid Liz McDonald.
She plans to get her hands dirty in challenges, unlike older I’m A Celebrity contestants in the past who have used their age to back out of trials.
Recovering from hip surgery done in March, Bev said: “I’ve worked really hard and I think I’m up to scratch.
“If I hear that voice saying. ‘Beverley can’t do this, because of medical reasons’, I will die.
“I will say, ‘No, I’m doing it’. The only thing they said I couldn’t do was bungee jumping.”
Beverley admitted her biggest fear was what she will look like in camp after a few days without her beauty products and make-up. “I’m taking a hairbrush as my luxury item,” she said.
“I’ve got very naturally frizzy hair. And honestly, I will look as if I’ve got Donald Trump ’s hairdresser.
“When people see me in that outfit with no make-up, and a Worzel Gummidge hairstyle, they might vote me out first!”
But Beverley is unfazed by the prospect of living with nine celebrities and plans to flirt with her rivals.
“If a young hunk is in there flirting I would be extremely flattered, and believe me, I will flirt back,” she said.
The 20th series of I’m A Celebrity starts tonight at 9pm – this time coming from Gwrych Castle, Abergele, in North Wales, rather than Australia.
Presenter Vernon Kay, 46, actress Jessica Plummer, 28, Radio 1 DJ Jordan North, 30, blogger Giovanna Fletcher, 35, and newsreader Victoria Derbyshire, 52, make their entrance by abseiling down a cliff.
Viewers will then see them work with soap stars Shane Richie, 56, and Beverley, dancer AJ Pritchard, 26, paralympian Hollie Arnold, 26, and runner Sir Mo Farah, 37, to retrieve their rucksacks, which are padlocked to a cliff.
Any celebrity who fails will not have their kit for the first night.
All ten celebrities later arrive at The Gates To Hell to be greeted by hosts Ant and Dec.
They are told they must work as a team to win 10 stars – with every star worth a meal for camp.
They are locked into individual cages and must pass stars between them through a maze.Shane passes a star to Jessica as cockroaches and crickets rain down on their heads.
Jessica takes over and passes a star to Giovanna, who squeals: “It’s down my knicker.”
“Pack it in, will you,” shouts Vernon, as mealworms land on the celebrities.
Then Beverley slows things down as she struggles to move the stars on as bugs wriggle through her hair – which makes it look less likely the celebrities will enjoy a square meal once they finally reach their base.
