Emma Willis may be in one of the most inhospitable places in the UK but she is glad she is not dealing with midges and that she’s stocked up on Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers.
The 46-year-old presenter, along with Rylan Clark and Oti Mabuse, started their Red Nose Day Challenge on Wednesday – climbing to the summit of Cairn Gorm, the sixth-highest mountain in the UK.
The mum of three laughed: “I had a friend who was up here in the summer and she said the midges were an
absolute nightmare so I’m really happy I don’t have those.
“I’m not sure how I feel about the cold and the rain. But at least I have a box of Tunnock’s to see me through.”
Midges aside, the challenge is no walk in the park.
Rough terrain, snow, biting wind and having to climb 1245m (4085ft) up Cairn Gorm is tough at the best of times – let alone during a Scottish winter with overnight temperatures as low as -6C.
It will take the three friends three days and two nights from yesterday’s start in the foothills to reaching the summit before walking down again.
Last night, they camped at the Mar Estate and all being well they will finish tomorrow.
The Voice UK host said: “I’ve got to admit when I first heard about it I thought, ‘That would be amazing – but will it be hard enough?’
“I got here and yes, it’s going to be hard enough. It’s a real challenge.”
Before they started the challenge in Braemar on Wednesday, the trio got acclimatised by training at the Cairngorm Mountain ski area, near Aviemore, using the funicular railway to reach 1065m and learn what they’ll be facing.
Emma said: “They got us to pitch our tents and get to know our equipment.
“Thankfully, tents are quite simple these days. They are quite easy to put up. We managed that. We walked in our boots to get used to them and put on crampons and used an ice axe – neither of which I’d ever used.
“It was very windy so an introduction to that and the cold and it was raining.
“I also got a bit of wind burn which was good to know what it felt like.
“They taught us how to slide down a mountain with an ice axe to stop falling and how to dig a snow hole in case we need to shelter from bad winds. It made me feel slightly more prepared if something happens.
“At the time it was fun with Rylan and Oti but now we are out in the elements we have to take it seriously as you actually don’t know what’s going to happen.
“You can’t predict the weather and as you know in the UK the weather doesn’t always do what the weatherman says.”
It’s also Emma’s first-ever wild camping experience. And while she has done a 100k trek in Scotland before, in 2021 for breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, nothing prepared her for the Red Nose Day challenge.
She said: “A couple of years ago I trekked across the Rob Roy Way and went up Ben Lawers but it was in September and we had a base camp with a toilet block and showers. We still camped in tents but we had facilities.”
Emma laughed: “This will be my first facility-free camping experience.”
She admitted the rucksack with her tent and provisions was “heavy” but does include a box of Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers and Kendal Mint Cake.
She said: “I love Tunnock’s. It’s not my first time. They are so moreish. They said we have to consume 4000 calories in a day. I couldn’t believe it. I’m going to happily oblige.”
She also revealed husband Matt Willis is envious of her adventure and her children, Isabelle, 13, Ace, 11, and Trixie, six, think she’s skiing.
She said: “Matt is super-excited and quite jealous he’s not doing it with me.
“The kids don’t quite understand what I’ve come to do. I showed them a video in the snow. I think they think I’ve just gone skiing in Scotland for the weekend. They will soon find out when they watch the documentary about it.”
Emma and Rylan, 34, have been mates since meeting through Big Brother and she and Oti, 32, are also friends.
Emma said: “I am close friends with Rylan and while I don’t know Oti as well, I felt as soon as we met I’d known her my whole life. She’s so lovely, sunny, kind and easy to get on with. It was an obvious team.
“We’ve got each other for moral support. In the moments we might think of quitting we will remember why we are doing it, to raise as much money as we can for Comic Relief.”
In a video while they were training, former Strictly star now Dancing on Ice judge, Oti, a South African, admitted she couldn’t stand the cold.
Birmingham native Emma said: “Oti isn’t doing very well with the cold.
“But her willpower and determination and strength of character are phenomenal so she wll be absolutely fine.
“It’s a struggle but she can handle a bit of snow.
“If she can handle trying to teach someone to dance for weeks on end she can handle some snow for a few days.”
Comic Relief has made celebs go up mountains before. In 2009, stars including Cheryl Cole, Gary Barlow and Denise Van Outen climbed Kilimanjaro.
In 2019, celebs including Shirley Ballas, Jade Thirlwall and Dani Dyer set out for Africa’s largest mountain again.
But Emma didn’t go to any of them for advice.
She said: “The terrain and the weather in the Cairngorms is different so I’m just listening to our two guides who are hopefully going to get us up and down in one piece.”
The weather will determine the group’s route and whether they can reach the top of Cairn Gorm.
Viewers will be able to follow them in Frozen: Emma, Oti and Rylan’s Red Nose Day Challenge on BBC1 and iPlayer in the lead-up to Red Nose Day on March 17.
Emma said: “It’s tough times for a lot of people. I know it’s difficult but if there is anybody who can and will donate it’s hugely appreciated.”
● Find out how you can support the team at comicrelief.com/frozen
