Crocodile feet, fish eyes, a live spider – they’ve all been on the menu for I’m A Celeb stars over the years…
I’m A Celeb’s toughest trials are undoubtedly the eating and drinking nightmares where real animal parts are served up or whisked into a smoothie, with everything from croc feet to fish eyes – and in one particularly grim episode involving Ferne McCann, a live spider – on the menu.
Each series there tends to be a vegetarian or two who doesn’t have to take part in the animal-chomping spectacle. This year Lisa Riley, 49, falls into that category. The Mandy Dingle actress is a committed vegetarian who in recent years has lost 12 stone with rigorous veggie meals and by cutting out bread and booze.
The Emmerdale legend, who arrived in Australia on Sunday, will not only be served up special meals in camp – meaning no kangaroo tail for her – but when it comes to the trials, she’ll have fruit-based vegetarian options.
Fans have long insisted that vegetarians get an easier ride on eating trials, with many saying that while the likes of Bev Callard – who is vegan – had to eat fermented plums and cheesefruit, it wasn’t as challenging as munching sheep penis or deer testicle like some of her co-stars had to.
In 2019, I’m A Celeb bosses announced that live insects would no longer be eaten on the show – with only dead creatures consumed on the show. Wildlife presenter Chris Packham said he was “very pleased” and called it a “first step”.
Lisa joked that she was arriving in Australia to reprise the Emmerdale spin-off Dingles Down Under. She told reporters: “I am a Dingle I can cope with anything, I’m from the north… we are made of tough skin.
“We did Dingles Down Under many years so and I feel it’s only right we do it again.” Lisa also insisted she could handle bugs crawling about, saying: “I’ve worked on a farm and it’s part of the job.”
Lisa’s character Mandy – who she has played for 10 years – is set to take a break from Emmerdale, with a source explaining that her disappearance from the soap while she appears on I’m A Celeb explained by her leaving the village to visit a pal.
An insider told The Sun: “Mandy’s exit will be lowkey and very brief”. They continued: “Lisa filmed her scenes last week, Mandy goes to visit friends and will be back before you know it.