I’m A Celebrity star Rita Simons opened up about her battle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder during a heart-to-heart with Anne Hegerty.
Simons, who is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders until 2017, discussed living with OCD as she discussed Hegerty’s autism, having revealed her diagnosis earlier this year.
Simons said: “You know that I’m fully diagnosed OCD… I’m much better now. I’m not too bad with cleanliness and all of that. I don’t do any of the rituals any more.
“I used to be a real light switcher, tap checker, I’d spend hours doing it. It’s almost the complete opposite of you because yours is all logical and mine is all illogical,” she explained further.
After just a few hours in the camp, Simons and The Chaser quizzer Hegerty began to bond as Simons comforted her when she became overwhelmed by her new surroundings.
Speaking in the Bush Telegraph, Simons said: “I had read about Anne’s autism and of course she’s sitting trying to process all these new surroundings. I get it completely.
“She’s trying to figure out what the hell she’s doing here and how to move forward and she’s obviously started to get a bit of routine now because she’s happier.”
Simons told The Governess that she “wouldn’t have guessed” she was autistic, prompting Hegerty to reply that her house would “show there was something very wrong”.
Asked if he was a hoarder, Hegerty explained: “Absolutely, and messy. An OCD person would not like my house.
"It's just sort of, I just get overwhelmed by all the things there are to do, I'm like, I have no idea.”
I’m a Celebrity continues Tuesday at 9pm on ITV.
