Becca Monaghan
Nov 16, 2021
The hotly anticipated I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here 2021 line-up has finally been confirmed by ITV.
Ten new celebrities will head to Gwrych Castle, Abergele in North Wales to take on the show’s infamous Bushtucker Trials. And of course, Ant and Dec will return to screens to host the 21st series.
Among the famous faces heading into the castle are Good Morning Britain’s Richard Madeley, football star David Ginola, actor Danny Miller who plays Aaron Dingle in Emmerdale and The Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge.
A day in the life of a (modern day) knight 😂🤳🏰 #ImACeleb https://t.co/zSZVodfSCm— antanddec (@antanddec) 1635882453
Here is everything you need to know about this year’s crop of contestants:
Richard Madeley
“But I really hope I do get voted for the Trials. The thing about this programme is you mustn’t go into it if you take yourself remotely seriously. I don’t and I am thoroughly looking forward to being covered in god knows what. You have to be prepared for people to laugh and I see this as a bloody great romp of fun.”
Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter
ITV
The veteran broadcaster has recently been guest-hosting Good Morning Britain alongside Susanna Reid. But he is perhaps best-known for presenting This Morning alongside wife Judy Finnigan.
Richard and Judy famously launched This Morning for 13 years before moving on in 2001.
The couple’s chat show Richard & Judy aired on Channel 4 for nearly seven years.
Dame Arlene Phillips
“I am always the oldest and so I am used to it”
ITV
The former Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Arlene, 78, is the oldest contestant to participate in the show.
She was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year for services to dance and charity, having first found fame when she created the provocative dance group Hot Gossip in 1974.
Her dancing portfolio boasts some of the West End and Broadway’s biggest shows, including Grease, Starlight Express, We Will Rock You, The Wizard Of Oz, Sound Of Music, Saturday Night Fever and Flashdance.
She then became a Strictly judge for six years alongside Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood.
Frankie Bridge
“People assume that if you are in a pop group you lead a really glamorous lifestyle and that I wouldn’t want to get stuck in, but I know I will give everything a go”
ITV
The 32-year-old singer shot to fame as part of The Saturdays alongside bandmates Mollie King, Vanessa White, Una Healy and Rochelle Humes.
She is now following in the footsteps of her famous husband, Wayne Bridge, who took part in I’m A Celebrity in Australia in 2016.
Naughty Boy
“I think it is important for people like myself to create awareness about it. Dementia UK needs constant funding, and I am going to miss Mum the most whilst I am away in the Castle. I live with Mum, and I am used to seeing her all the time”
ITV
From Beyonce, Sam Smith and Emeli Sandé to performing at Buckingham Palace in front of the Prince of Wales, the music producer and DJ has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
His song La La La, featuring vocals from Sam Smith, proved a hit and earned him two Mobo awards in 2013. He has spoken openly about caring for his mother, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2017.
Danny Miller
“I am scared of the eating Trials. I can’t even brush my teeth without being sick and I am dreading it if my gagging reflexes start, but that said, it won’t stop me doing the Trials.”
ITV
The 30-year-old soap star has played Emmerdale’s Aaron Dingle on and off for 13 years. He recently became a first-time father as he and fiancee Steph welcomed their son, Albert.
Louise Minchin
“I really hate conflicts too and I will try to be the diplomat in the Castle. But a lack of sleep won’t be an issue for me... I am a champion sleeper and I can sleep anywhere at any time”
ITV
After nearly 20 years of presenting BBC’s flagship morning news show, BBC Breakfast, Louise announced that she was stepping back from the show earlier this year.
The 53-year-old has covered a string of major global news stories, including general elections, Brexit, the coronavirus pandemic and terror attacks. She also interviewed famous faces such as the Duchess of Cambridge, Sir David Attenborough and singer Billie Eilish.
Matty Lee
“When I told Tom, he was in shock too. He is so excited for me and he has always been so supportive and helped me a lot over the past three years. He gives me advice about anything whether it is relationships or whatever – I always ask Tom”
ITV
The 23-year-old Olympian won the men’s 10-metre synchro gold with teammate Tom Daley in Tokyo, so any trials involving heights are sure to be a piece of cake.
Snoochie Shy
“I am actually quite a shy person when I am outside my comfort zone. I think my shy side might come out and I might be quite shy in the first couple of days, but I also will definitely be a team player. I want to show everyone how to twerk too”
ITV
The 29-year-old south Londoner has made a name for herself as a Radio 1Xtra DJ hosting the late night slot. She also hosts the podcast Slide Into My Podcast on BBC Sounds.
Kadeena Cox
“I am scared of spiders, I don’t like rats, I don’t like snakes, and I don’t like heights. But I am hoping the athlete in me will want to do it for the team and just get through that tough moment. I will scream afterwards”
ITV
The four-time Paralympic gold champion from Leeds has represented Great Britain in both sprinting and cycling events. The athlete was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014.
Having previously competed as an able-bodied athlete, she excelled on her Paralympics debut two years later. She was one of the headline-grabbing stories of Rio, becoming the first Briton to top the podium in two different sports in the same Games since 1984.
Earlier this year, she was crowned the winner of Celebrity MasterChef.
David Ginola
“I will be the chef in the camp. And rice and beans is perfect for me as I have put on six kilos over the past three months and I think it will be interesting to see if I can lose six kilos in three weeks”
ITV
The French former Premier League footballer, 54, has played for teams including Newcastle, Tottenham and Everton – before retiring in 2002.
He suffered a cardiac arrest during a charity match in France in 2016 and was administered CPR on the pitch by fellow footballer Frederic Mendy, who he said had saved his life.
Speaking on Sky Sports about the incident, he later said: “This is what saved my life. The surgeon who operated said to me: ‘I did my job but I didn’t save your life, the one who saved your life is the one next to you on the football pitch’.
“Frederic Mendy and those guys had been told how to perform CPR and they did it for 12 minutes. I was dead for 12 minutes.”
I’m A Celebrity starts on ITV on Sunday (November 21) at 9pm.
Top 100
The Conversation (0)