I’M A Celeb fans were treated to a first look at late comers Maura Higgins and Richard Coles at the end of tonight’s episode.
Shortly after Ant and Dec revealed that Dean McCullough will be going the trial tomorrow, they shared the news of the new arrivals.
Maura shot to fame on ITV2’s dating show Love Island back in 2019, while Richard is a Church of England priest.
Ant told viewers: “There is another big surprise coming your way.
“Two new faces are heading for the jungle.”
The ITV show then played out their VTs.
Richard said: “I’ve spent two years living in a Monastery, so I know what it’s like to be 24/7 with people.
“We got more cakes though, that made life a bit easier. I do love food. 500 calories a day…”
He confessed he’s not good at heights.
Meanwhile Maura confessed: “I feel like it’s a bit scarier going in later because everybody has met.
“I’m a clean freak, I’m not afraid to say how I feel I’m probably annoying to live with.
“The eating trial, that’s the worst for me. Eyeballs, that’s vile.
“I don’t want to eat testicles on TV.
“I just really hope a braver Maura walks out than walks in.”
The Geordie duo explained that they will enter a separate camp and go on a secret mission.
During tonight’s instalment of I’m a Celebrity: Unpacked, Sam Thompson gave a glimpse of where they will be living – a camp called Junk Yard.
i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year..
Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
Tulisa – The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year’s I’m A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
Alan Halsall – The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities.
Melvin Odoom – The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet – the Aussie jungle.
GK Barry – The UK’s biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
Dean McCullough – A rising star amongst this year’s bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
Oti Mabuse – The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Danny Jones – The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he’s now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom Fletcher.
Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge – having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane’s first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
Barry McGuigan – Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: “She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache.”
Maura Higgins – The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
Rev. Richard Coles – Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity, and he’s ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: “Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth.”
The MIC star confessed that he thinks that Maura is going to struggle.
Despite that, the reality star is really excited for her jungle stint.
Ahead of her time on the show, Maura said: “It will be nice to strip back.
“I love my fake tan but I am excited to be without it.
“My skin is going to be flawless.
“It really is a detox and I am excited to have a phone detox too.”
With many interested to know what’s going on with Strictly’s Pete Wicks, the beauty confirmed she is not dating anyone.
Maura confessed: “I am single at the moment, but honestly no-one is going to fancy me in the jungle… Trust me!”
Meanwhile Richard is nervous and excited about I’m A Celebrity.
He said: “I have flown in from Brazil and the Amazon to do this, as I have been giving some talks there.
“It’s a tougher gig being the late entrant as you already have
some groups forming.
“And I am nervous of getting in there and not recognising people.
“You could be talking to the most famous influencer in the world and not know who it is.
“So that will be tricky.
“I am also worried about how I am going to cope with educating myself on 500 calories a day.
“Five hundred calories is normally elevenses for me!
“But at least having been in Brazil and the Amazon, I will be jungle
ready.”