Shaun Ryder has declared being on ‘I’m a Celebrity...’ has taught him nothing about himself because his brain doesn’t “retain anything”.
Shaun Ryder has declared being on ‘I’m a Celebrity...’ has taught him nothing about himself because his brain doesn’t ‘retain anything‘
The ‘Happy Mondays’ frontman, 60, who has recently been stricken with conditions including a defective thyroid, attention deficit disorder and alopecia, first appeared on the ITV show in 2010 and was named on Monday 17.04.23 as one of the first nine stars who will feature in the launch episode of the new ‘I’m a Celebrity... South Africa’ series.
He said during his entrance interview, ahead of the show airing on 24 April, when asked what the 2010 experience taught him: “I don’t learn anything because I don’t retain anything. That’s my problem!”
Shaun – renowned for his heroin addiction and wild living in his rock ’n‘ roll heyday – added: “All I can remember about the (Bushtucker) Trials is eating a lot of penises, testicles and eyeballs!”
When asked to name his ideal campmate he said: “My life hero, Johnny Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten – who walked off ‘IAC’ in 2004.)
“He was the reason why I said ‘yes’ originally. I am keeping my fingers crossed he will be in camp.
“Anyone I don’t want to see again? I am not telling you in case you make sure she is there!”
When pressed for his “best memory” of the show, Shaun added: “The camp life. I am not usually a sociable person but I enjoyed chatting to everyone around the campfire.”
After weeks of speculation, ITV confirmed on Monday (17.04.23) the nine famous faces who will appear on the upcoming first episode of ‘I’m a Celebrity... South Africa’.
Along with Shaun, they ar former boxing champion Amir Khan, 36, ‘Diversity’ dancer and DJ Jordan Banjo, 30, ex-‘Coronation Street’ actress Helen Flanagan, 32, former ‘Countdown’ maths whizz Carol Vorderman, 62, Olympian Fatima Whitbread, 62, former royal Butler Paul Burrell, 64, ex-England cricketer Phil Tufnell, 56, and ex-supermodel Janice Dickinson, 68.
Meanwhile, The Sun claimed on Monday that also in line to join them are singer Myleene Klass, 45, nutritionist Gillian McKeith, 63, actors Dean Gaffney, 45, Joe Swash, 41, and Andy Whyment, 42, and reality TV star Georgia Toffolo, 28.
Other highlights from entrance interviews given by the names confirmed by ITV included Carol admitting former contestant Myleene would beat her in a “bikini Oscars” contest.
She said when asked to name her dream campmate: “Myleene Klass, but if we had 'bikini Oscars' she would win.”
Myleene was branded the “winner of the bikini Oscars” after her famous white swimwear moment in the 2006 series
Fatima said her most “iconic memory” of the show was during her previous stint in the jungle when she got a cockroach stuck in her nostril as it “took quite a while to reappear!”
She said: “Every time ‘I’m a Celebrity’ is on TV, the cockroach incident gets aired!”
Amir said when asked to describe his scariest Bushtucker Trial from his stint on the show: “Spiders in a taxi. We were locked in a taxi and spiders were all over the place. You didn’t know if they were going to go in your pants! I was in bits!”
Jordan added previously doing ‘IAC’ “made me grateful for the time I get to spend with my family and friends”.
Helen said: “The theme tune still creeps me out but I enjoyed meeting all my fellow campmates and I still like watching friends I know do the show.”
Paul, who came out as gay in 2017 years after he finished as runner-up on 2004’s ‘IAC’, added about how the show transformed his career and public image and how he wanted to do the show for “dads struggling with their sexuality”: “I went into the jungle as Princess Diana’s former butler and I came out as Paul Burrell.
“From that point onwards, I realised I had to be me. Not long after that, my marriage disintegrated and I found a different path.
“This time I want to be there for all the dads out there who are struggling with their sexuality.”
Phil said his biggest lesson from previously competing on ‘AC’ was to “appreciate everything” in life.
He added: “The first thing I did after being in the jungle was to get on a beautiful soft bed and have a bath!”
Janice said: “I learnt that I could be ok with myself, if things were happening on one side of the camp I would just pick myself up and move.
“I found out it was ok to be by yourself, although you never know what creepy crawlies are going to crawl out from a log. You never know what’s going to jump up and bite your a**.”
‘I’m a Celebrity... South Africa’ starts Monday 24 April at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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