Sinitta has said she went on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2011 because she did not think producers would “really make me do it”.
The singer and actress, 62, is among the former contestants returning to the jungle for the South African spin-off which returns to screens on Monday, and will see stars compete against each other to be crowned the legend.
Sinitta confessed on ITV’s This Morning that she signed up for the original version of the show 15 years ago because she thought it was staged.
The singer, whose real name is Sinitta Malone, said: “I did actually think – like, I was on The X Factor.”
Speaking about her friend and the creator of the music competition show, Simon Cowell, she said: “And I thought, you know, they’re not going to let – he’s not going to let them really make me do it, you know?
“They’ll feed me. So I thought, if I do good TV…
“You really have to go and collect your own water, you know – you really have to sleep outside, you can feel things running over you in the sleeping bag.”
Sinitta was the second contestant to be voted off the reality TV show, hosted by Ant and Dec, during her 2011 stint and she was known for her fearful reaction as she took on the trials and challenges.
She said: “I don’t think (the show) fixes your fears – and I really know that now. It’s never going to fix it, it doesn’t fix your fears. It reconciles you with nature to a certain extent, in its place.”
Sinitta will return to the jungle along with a host of celebrities including Olympian Sir Mo Farah, former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt, Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts and comedian Seann Walsh.
The singer went on to praise her new campmates, hailing Sir Mo as an “amazing guy”, adding: “I’m sure I curtsied when I saw him.”
Reflecting on her time on the show which is pre-recorded, unlike the classic I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Sinitta continued: “We giggled and laughed a lot, as well as we were terrified.”
The singer, known for hits including So Macho, Toy Boy and GTO, also admitted that she smuggled contraband including sachets of coffee into the camp during the new series.
When asked if she got caught, she said: “I don’t think they knew it was me but I think (producers) could smell coffee.”
Other celebrities who brave the South African jungle alongside Sinitta include Red Dwarf’s Craig Charles, former footballer Jimmy Bullard and Waterloo Road star Adam Thomas.
Coronation Street star Beverley Callard, former football manager Harry Redknapp, reality TV star Gemma Collins and former boxer David Haye complete the line-up.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa kicks off at 9pm on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player and will air on weeknights.
