Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips is set to become the oldest I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here contestant.
The world renown choreographer will also become the first Dame to enter the camp when she takes part in ITV's hit game show next month (November).
And Arlene, aged 78, hasn't been put off swapping the warm Australian jungle for the spooky Welsh castle as the series returns for the second year running.
She is not the first contestant in their 70s to take part; Boris Johnson's dad Stanley held the record previously, having been 77 when he did it in 2017, lasting 18 days in the jungle before being voted out, reports The Mirror.
Harry Redknapp was 71 when he triumphed in 2018 and Caitlyn Jenner was 70 when she signed up the following year.
Unlike the previous contestants, Arlene will have to brave the Gwrych Castle in north Wales, making it far tougher than the conditions on Australia's gold coast.
One source said: “Arlene is straight-talking and has been around the block a few times – she's strong and tough and could easily waltz off with the prize. Her energy is boundless. No doubt she'll have the group dancing around the campfire in a bid to beat the cold and keep morale high. Should be fun.”
Born in Prestwich, Lancashire during the war in 1943, Dame Arlene moved to London as a teen and quickly established herself in the dance industry, working on adverts before moving onto West End shows, films including 1982's Annie and music videos like Duran Duran's The Wild Boys.
She set up the dance troupe Hot Gossip, who performed on The Kenny Everett Show and her skills as an award-winning dance teacher and theatre director have also taken her to Broadway. Next year she will direct new musical, The Cher Show.
In a recent interview, the mother of two grown-up daughters said she was ready for fresh challenges, declaring: “I now want to do things that are totally out of my comfort zone.”
Earlier this week, last year's contestant Vernon Kay warned it was going to be even tougher on I'm a Celebrity this year. He revealed: “I’ve heard that it’s going to be more vicious, it’s going to be on a bigger scale. And they’re going to be doing lots more activities.”
Last night an ITV spokesman declined to comment.
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