Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver got her first taste of jungle life as she made her I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! debut. The actress, famed for playing Eileen Grimshaw in the ITV soap, was seen swapping Weatherfield for Australia as the ITV reality show returned on Sunday night (November 6).
Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly have headed back Down Under with the show's crew and a batch of ten new campmates for the 2022 series, three years after the show was last filmed on the other side of the world due to travel restrictions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Opening the first episode of I’m A Celebrity 2022 from the show's iconic swing bridge, Dec said: "Get ready for the return to Oz." Ant added: "The jungle has got plenty of surprises in store," before Dec continued: “There really is no place like home here on I’m A Celebrity…” and back on their usual form, the Geordie duo then both shouted: "Get Me Out Of Here!"
Sue was among the second batch of five contestants to discover their fate, following former Love Islander Olivia Attwood, radio DJ Chris Moyles, Loose Women star Charlene White, comedian Babatunde Aleshe, and former England footballer Jill Scott who arrived by a luxury car at a waterside villa on the Gold Coast.
Meanwhile, arriving one-by-one by boat to a marina was Boy George, rugby player Mike Tindall, TV presenter, property expert Scarlette Douglas., Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner and, of course, Sue.
Speaking in her VT, the soap star, said: "I've been on Corrie for nearly 23 years, it's a long time, I'm very old. I'm 59, I need to challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone, so this is my year of doing new things."
And I'm A Celeb were soon reacting to her age admission as they refused to believe Sue's actual age and were quick to share how "incredible" they think she looks. @becca_985 tweeted: "No way is Sue 59!! She looks incredible #ImACeleb."
@kezzab333 wrote: "Sue Cleaver does not look 59 #imaceleb." @MissSuzy41 shared: "Sue Cleaver looks absolutely gorgeous. Can’t get me head around her being 59 #ImACeleb." @carriet1234 posted: "F**k off sue cleaver 59 she looks so much younger #Imaceleb."
@RyanJL penned: "STFU is Sue Cleaver 59! Spill those secrets, Sue #ImACeleb." @MissMarrple commented: "Sue looks f****ng amazing for 59. #ImACeleb." @griannedoherty3 added: "Current top 3... (In my opinion) @_OwenWarner @Sue_Cleaver @miketindall13 Sue & Mike are totally gona be like this year's jungle parents with Owen as their Son. Can't believe she's 59, looks incredible #ImACeleb."
During the first episode of the series, Sue alongside Mike and Owen were helicoptered into the jungle and put to the test on the 'Critter Cruise' where they had to each try and secure a star from a boat’s mast by completing a challenge.
Among the obstacles to unlocking the stars was a code which Mike had to break and a "hell hole" of critters where Sue had to search for fish eyes. Meanwhile, Owen had to get into a pip and search through bugs and grime to find hex keys to unlock a grate. And the trio successfully managed to secure all three stars to take back to camp.
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