This Morning presenter Josie Gibson was the third star to arrive in Australia to appear on I’m A Celeb last night.
The former Big Brother contestant is taking a break from the sofa to star alongside the likes of Nigel Farage and Jamie Lynne Spears in the jungle.
But Josie, 38, shared her secret heartache at signing up to appear on the ITV show, confessing she is devastated at being away from her five-year-old son Reggie for the next month.
When asked at Brisbane airport what she will miss most, she told MailOnline: ‘My little boy, he’s only five.
‘It was emotional [saying goodbye], I can’t talk about it.
Josie, who also admitted she was ‘excited’ to be there, attempted to keep her deal to join I’m A Celeb a secret, insisting that she was in Australia for a weight loss retreat.
She said she would happily enjoy the rice and beans that the contestants are given for their daily meal.
Josie didn’t rule out winning either, saying: ‘I guess we’ll have to wait and see, I don’t know.’
The host also urged This Morning viewers to tune into the show in her absence.
Speaking of her co-star Craig Doyle, Josie said: ‘Ahh he’s so lush, I love Craig, he’s so nice.
‘He’s on with Cat Deeley on Wednesday and the Rylan too. So, make sure you don’t miss it.
She was seen taking selfies with fans at Heathrow airport yesterday – confirming speculation that she had signed to the ITV show.
Bosses at the channel are said to be very keen to increase her profile following her popularity on their daytime programme, This Morning. Josie will join the likes of Nigel Farage and influencer Nella Rose – who have already arrived – in Oz.
First Dates star Fred Sirieix is also expected to land in Brisbane in the coming hours, while other celebrities rumoured to be taking part include jockey Frankie Dettori, singer Marvin Humes, chef Grace Dent, and Britney Spears’ younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears.
However, Josie is the bookies’ favourite to be crowned this year’s Queen of the Jungle after she won the nation’s hearts and votes during her 2010 Big Brother appearance.
Her fun-loving charisma meant the fellow housemates selected her to receive a ticket to the final and Josie won with 77 percent of the public vote – the highest score out of any other series.
She became a household name earlier this year when she stepped in to present This Morning alongside Holly Willoughby after Phillip Schofield was ousted.
The show begins on Sunday November 19.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
