Snakes, bugs, creepy crawlies and, of course, terrified celebrities can mean only one thing: I’m A Celebrity… is back! Former queens of the jungle Vicky Pattison and Stacey Solomon consider how this year's celebs might cope in camp…
Vicky Pattison and Stacey Solomon will be returning to the I'm A Celebrity jungle this year, but this time it's to co-host new ITV spin-off show Extra Camp. Here, they talk about trials, rumoured celebs and how to survive in camp...
How are you feeling about going out to Oz to co-host I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp with Joe Swash and comic Chris Ramsey? Vicky: "I'm excited to be presenting – but I am really jealous of the new campmates. Being in the jungle last year was such an amazing experience and the feeling you get when you're in there – the achievement, the teamwork, the camaraderie. It's something you can't recreate and I've come to terms with the fact that it's a feeling I’m never gonna get again."
Vicky was in high spirits after being crowned last year's queen of the jungle
Stacey, how do you feel about working with Joe, who’s also your boyfriend? "I just feel so lucky to not only be doing a job I love but with someone there who can support me. It's a lovely feeling. Usually when you're in Australia to do the jungle you're away from all your family, all your friends and no one's there…" Vicky: "They've all got someone coming out… I'll just get a text! I'm gonna be third-wheeling everyone else. I'll be there on date night, saying: 'Where we going guys?'"
Stacey's looking forward to working with her boyfriend and co-host, Joe Swash
Do you mind that, Vicky? "Not at all. I really wanna focus on this and be really good at it. I've made no secret of the fact that I'd love to have a career with a bit of longevity in it and I'm a little bit in awe of everyone else, I feel like they've had more practice than me. Maybe I'm just really nervous, so the last thing I need is someone coming out and distracting us. Cause I know what I'm like… I'll get drunk and I'll do something silly. So I’m just flying solo."
So what can we expect from Extra Camp? Stacey: "The show has got a really relaxed vibe. It'll just be us having a laugh, being silly, playing games, having fun and talking about the show. We've all got something to say and we actually really love the show, we're massive fans, so talking about something you enjoy is really easy." Vicky: "Basically, Ant and Dec on ITV are the big brothers and we're like the naughty little brothers, so we can get away with more. We're definitely gonna cut loose and be little rascals."
Sounds like Ant and Dec are going to have to keep the Extra Camp lot in check
We hear you'll be doing some trials on the show. How are you both feeling about that? Stacey: "I am nervous about doing the trials again. They're fun but not enough that you want to have your head in a box with cockroaches crawling up your nose. And I'm still really scared of the spiders! Oh, and yabbies, too. When I was in there in 2010, I got bitten by one on my foot!" Vicky: "Ooh, you haven’t lived till you've been bitten by a yabbie! I'm really competitive, so I'm really looking forward to it." Stacey: "I’m just happy that I'm not doing it this time for people's food. There's no pressure. The real trial is that Chris is sharing a trailer with Joe – I'm just so glad he's out of my hair!"
Stacey was all smiles after winning in 2010... just don't mention spiders!
How do you think the celebrities will do this year? Stacey: "I think Carol will be the mother figure; she'll be the one who looks after everyone and gets them washing up and doing stuff around camp." Vicky: "Ooh, I don’t know. Carol was on Loose Women and she was like: ‘Oh my mum still lives with me’, so I feel like she's very looked after, so I don't know how she'd do in there…"
Vicky and Stacey have mixed views about how rumoured celeb Carol might get on in camp
You've both won the show - what qualities do you need to be a good campmate? Vicky: "You need to have courage, stamina and patience but, above all, be kind. This industry can be very cut-throat but, in camp, biting your tongue or helping out or looking out for someone who might be slightly older, it just goes so far. I got the best bit of advice before I went in the jungle last year off Jake Quickenden, who just said: 'Pick your battles'. For someone like me who can be quite quick to judge, speak or whatever, that advice was invaluable." Stacey: "Also, remember that everything is temporary, you're only in there for three weeks – not three years. It's like when you hear people in there having a huge argument over nothing, over something really trivial, and you just think: 'Stop, this is so temporary, enjoy it, for God's sake!"
If you had your time in the jungle again, is there anything you'd do differently? Stacey: "I wish I’d never told the producers I didn't like spiders. For some reason, because spiders are eight-legged creatures they're only allowed in a certain amount of the trials – but EVERY one of my trials had those things in it. I was like: 'What was I thinking?'" Vicky: "If I went in again I'd tell the producers that I'm scared of gin, I hate fit men – and I can't stand cream cakes!"
I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! returns on Sunday November 13 at 9pm on ITV, with I’m a Celebrity… Extra Camp following at 10.45pm on ITV2.
