Comedian Shappi Khorsandi's one of the new batch of celebrities for ITV adventure

Ealing and Northfield local, comedien Shappi Khorsandi, joins Boris Johnson's dad, Stanley, former Chelsea Captain, Dennis Wise, Corrie actress Jennie McAlpine, and singer Vanessa White amongst others on the latest jungle ordeal for TV's ' I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out.'

Shappi has spent the last few months being vegan in preparation to survive on the Jungle’s basic food rations.
But she insists it’s only a temporary measure as she prepares to take on a challenge that is ‘way out of my comfort zone’.

The comedian, who has appeared on shows like Just a Minute, Have I Got News For You and QI, also reveals she’s been drinking cups of tea by the gallon as part of getting ready to go on I’m A Celebrity because she wants to be able to create a ’beautiful memory’ of her favourite drink.

“I don’t know how I am going to cope without tea I drink it all day. Tea is my life. I am okay with food and I’ve actually become a vegan over the last few months as I thought that would help me eat really simply in the Jungle. But I definitely didn’t wean myself off tea in the run-up. In fact it was the exact opposite. I drank stacks so I could build up a beautiful memory of drowning in tea before I went in. I had it so much because I wanted to have that memory to fantasise about.”

Shappi reveals watching her friend, Joel Dommett, who was runner-up in last year’s series, spurred her on to accept the challenge. She says she hopes to do both her children proud during the trials.

“I’d like to think I am gutsy. You can’t let people down. I am a single mum and I’ve always had to do my best and get through everything. You haven’t got time to sit down and have a whinge.”

Her children, she adds, are understandably two of the people she is going to miss the most.
“It’s going to be the longest time I’ve been apart from my children and that is frightening but I hope other people will be kind when you are having your wobble.

“I am also going to miss my Mum and Dad as they live near me and I see them all the time. And I am going to miss my cats and music. You take it for granted and I think that is going to be tough.”

The 44-year-old, whose stand-up routines are famous for being deadpan and observational, also
thinks it will be a nice opportunity to show people the real her. Currently single, she laughs when asked if she hopes to find love under the Jungle stars.

“I am really happily single,” declares the comedian. “But never say no to a bit of love.”
As for whether she hopes going in the Jungle will cure her fear of heights, she says it’s a resounding no.

“I don’t think I should be cured,” she adds. “I never want to be cured by jumping through the air.”

“How will I cope with the boredom? I actually think that if there are other people to have a laugh and play games with, I don’t actually know how bored I will be. I can’t remember the last time I was bored.”

Does she envisage being crowned Queen of the Jungle?

“It would be amazing to win this,” she replies. “The only thing I have won before is the egg and
spoon race in 1981. But when I am in there, I don’t want to see other people as competitors. That would take the fun away. It is not what I am about and why I am in there.”

Others jungle companions are: Amir Khan Rebekah Vardy, Georgia Toffolo, Jack Maynard, Jamie Lomas

I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2017 will kick off this Sunday, November 19, 2017 on ITV 9pm.

15th November 2017