I faced my fears in gross I’m A Celebrity trial and know exactly why Coleen is right to be exempt
I HAVE been gunged with fish guts, dunked into a slime pool and chomped on a witchetty grub Down Under in Ant and Dec’s jungle.
I might not be a famous face, but as a journalist who has covered the show from Australia, I’ve got firsthand experience when it comes to facing my fears on I’m A Celebrity.
That’s why I can vouch for why viewers need to accept that some celebrities must be exempt from specific trials and challenges.
I know it’s annoying when you can’t vote for a certain campmate to face a horrid task – sometimes it’s not even clear what ailment or condition might be stopping them.
And sometimes even I have rolled my eyes when an allergy or dietary restriction prevents them doing the hated eating trials.
But as I quivered on the edge of a gangplank above a pool of slime to play Catch A Falling Star, I can tell you why I was glad ITV’s duty of care is so OTT.
I had to grab stars out of a deluge of slime as it fell on to my head, then when I missed, I plunged into a slurry of fish guts below.
It was terrifying to hear the slime slop down the tube above me and then again as my head went under the dark water below.
Imagine if I’d had an ear condition, or eye infection, or couldn’t swim, or knew I was allergic to fish?
There’s got to be boundaries so celebs feel safe enough to be funny – because at it’s heart I’m A Celeb is an entertainment show.
Celebs we love to hate, suffering? Entertaining.
People in genuine pain? Not so much.
It comes as Coleen Rooney could be ruled out of a string of I’m A Celebrity trials due to health reasons.
The 38-year-old wife of former England striker Wayne has painful reactive arthritis, which affects the joints and is set off by stress.
It means she may be exempt from some challenges in the upcoming series.
A source said: “Execs want to keep her happy and healthy.”
CELEB EXEMPTIONS ON I'M A CELEBRITY
NIGEL FARAGE, 2023
Revealed back injuries from a plane crash meant he was ruled out of more physical challenges.
NELLA ROSE, 2023
Sat out a trial after being treated by a camp medic for an unknown injury during another challenge.
TONY BELLEW, 2023
Dodged a highwire challenge called On The Tubes for unknown reasons, with Josie Gibson and Danielle Harold stepping in instead.
SUE CLEAVER, MIKE TINDALL, BOY GEORGE, 2022
Viewers were furious when the three big names were all counted out of a highwire challenge for unknown reasons.
BABATUNDE ALESHE, 2022
The comedian was exempt from all water-based challenges, for unknown reasons.
BEVERLEY CALLARD, 2020
The soap legend, who is a vegan, dodged an eating and drinking trial but declared “I’m not a wuss!”.
ANNE HEGARTY, 2018
Revealed she was exempt from trials after she “freaked out” during her first challenge.
REBEKAH VARDY, 2017
Skipped ‘fish-based’ challenges due to a shellfish allergy.
REBECCA ADLINGTON, 2013
Revealed she had been excluded from trials in confined spaces due to an anxiety disorder and panic attacks.
NICOLA McCLEAN, 2008
Revealed she was ruled out of a trial that required her to wear a harness due to her breast implants.
Coleen said the stress of her Wagatha Christie legal case triggered a crippling bout of the condition.
Sources revealed that ITV medics will seek to ease the 38-year-old’s condition if it flares up while in the jungle.
It means the wife of ex-England striker Wayne could follow a host of former campmates who were exempt from some trials for health reasons.
A show source said: “The duty of care on I’m A Celeb is second to none and over the years the cast have been ruled out of challenges for a string of different reasons.
“Some might have seemed trivial to viewers but the health and happiness of the celebs is of execs’ utmost concern. Coleen’s reactive arthritis being triggered by stress means execs want to wrap her in cotton wool and keep her happy and healthy.”
Our source went on: “The condition is currently under control so at this stage it’s a ‘could be’ ruled out rather than a ‘will be’. But her physical health will be monitored and, if she suffers a flare-up, her ability to perform each trial will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”