Andy Whyment has joined the I'm A Celebrity spin-off after appearing in the 2019 series in which he came runner-up, losing to fellow soap star Jacqueline Jossa in the final. The Coronation Street legend is making his comeback as a late arrival alongside 2006 runner-up Myleene Klass and 2017 winner Georgia Toffolo.
Actor Andy Whyment, known to millions as Kirk Sutherland, admits going on I'm A Celebrity holds a special place in his heart because it gave soap fans the chance to get to know the real him. He said of returning to the show: "I am a massive fan of the show and to be asked again is such an honour. I felt privileged to be asked back and I said yes immediately - well once I had spoken to Corrie to make sure I could do it. They said I could and so here we are."
The new series, which started on Monday, April 24 on ITV1 and ITVX, was recorded last year at Kruger National Park. The spin-off sees campmates from years go by return for an all-star series in a new setting.
Read more: Where is ITV I'm a Celebrity South Africa filmed? Location for all-star series
Andy, Myleene and Toff will be joining fellow late arrival Gillian McKeith as well as Amir Khan, Jordan Banjo, Carol Vorderman, Fatima Whitbread, Shaun Ryder, Helen Flanagan, Phil Tufnell, Janice Dickinson and Paul Burrell. Here's everything you know about Andy as he returns to camp.
Andy Whyment's family life
Andy has been married to his wife Nicola since 2007. Last year the couple celebrated their 15-year wedding anniversary, with the actor sharing snaps to social media.
Marking the milestone with sweet pictured on Instagram, Andy wrote: "15 years ago today I married @nicski31 happy anniversary babe Love You xxx."
Speaking about their relationship, Andy previously told OK! Magazine: "I fancied Nic for some time, but nothing happened. Then we copped off one night and it wasn't too long before I realised she was the one I wanted to be with. I said in my wedding speech you just know when you meet the one, and that's true."
The couple share two children together, son Thomas and daughter Hollie. A devoted family man, Andy says his experience of I'm A Celebrity the first time around made him realise how much he loved and missed his wife and children.
"I didn’t learn too many new things about myself other than I could handle jungle life," the actor said. "But it did make me realise how much I loved my family."
Andy Whyment's Emmerdale link
Andy is best known to fans as Coronation Street legend Kirk Sutherland, a role he has played since 2000. And given that he's been on the Cobbles for so long, people might be surprised to know that Andy has had many other roles.
Away from the famous street, his first credited part was actually in Cracker in 1993 and he also had minor roles in The Cops, Heartbeat and Where the Heart Is. Taking to Instagram at the end of last year, Andy shared a throwback to his time on Heartbeat.
He wrote: "Throwback to when I played Eric in Heartbeat 22 years ago forgot what I looked like with a full head of hair."
When was Andy Whyment on I'm A Celebrity?
Andy came runner-up on I'm A Celebrity 2019. He said of his time on the show: "To get to the final with people in my camp like Caitlyn Jenner who has millions of followers on Twitter was amazing.
"I am an ordinary guy and I was so glad people saw me for who I am. Before then, they had just seen me as Kirk. I’m A Celebrity is 24 hours a day and it meant a lot to me that people did vote for me.
"I think it is why I got so emotional as I’d never done a show where people were voting for me as me. I was over the moon to come runner-up in the series and it feels great to be doing it all over again."
I'm A Celebrity continues on ITV1 and ITVX on weeknights at 9pm. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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