Ruby Wax arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport on Sunday as she prepared to jet to Australia to appear on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!
The actress and comedian, 72, is set to join names including Martin Kemp, Lisa Riley and Kelly Brook in the famous jungle when the new series kicks off on Sunday.
Ahead of her lengthy flight across the world, Ruby beamed as she headed to the terminal.
She found fame on ITV sitcom Girls On Top in 1985 and went on to be an interviewer on shows such as the BBC’s Ruby Wax Meets.
Ruby is just the latest star to fly to Oz, with EastEnders star Shona McGarty boarding her flight to Australia hours earlier.
It comes after Shona McGarty became the third contestant to touch down in Brisbane Airport.
Ruby Wax arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport on Sunday as she prepared to jet to Australia to appear on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!
The actress and comedian is set to join names including Martin Kemp, Lisa Riley and Kelly Brook in the famous jungle when the new series kicks off on Sunday
Ahead of her lengthy flight across the world, Ruby beamed as she headed to the terminal
The actress, 34, who played Whitney Dean from 2008 to 2024 on the BBC soap wore a bright pink shirt, black cycling shorts and a baseball cap.
Shona was notably without her engagement ring after her rumoured split from her fiancé David Bracken and when asked what she would miss about the UK, she said: ‘Not a lot.’
Shona joked to the Daily Mail: ‘I’ve got on the wrong flight,’ when asked why she was in Australia as contestants are not officially allowed to confirm their appearance on the ITV show.
She continued: ‘I’m going to have to ask for directions back now.
‘I really want to see a kangaroo, I’ve never seen one in my life.’
Kelly Brook and Lisa Riley were the first stars to land in Australia ahead of this year’s I’m A Celebrity as they officially touched down at Brisbane Airport.
Model and actress Kelly, 45, was the first to arrive as she looked very glamorous in a £250 yellow and orange dress from Louisa Ballou – which she proudly said was like ‘the Australian sunset’.
She told the Daily Mail: ‘I’m just here to visit my Auntie Sheila’ as celebrities are not allowed to confirm whether they are appearing on the ITV show yet.
She opted for a casual look ahead of the lengthy flight, dressing in casual black trousers, a blue cardigan and a red top
She found fame on ITV sitcom Girls On Top in 1985 and went on to be an interviewer on shows such as the BBC’s Ruby Wax Meets
It was first reported last month that Ruby was in ‘advanced talks’ with ITV bosses to join the I’m A Celebrity lineup
It comes after Shona McGarty became the third contestant to touch down in Brisbane Airport
The actress who played Whitney Dean from 2008 to 2024 on the BBC soap wore a bright pink shirt, black cycling shorts and a baseball cap
It comes as Kelly Brook and Lisa Riley were the first stars to land in Australia ahead of this year’s I’m A Celebrity as they officially touched down at Brisbane Airport
Model and actress Kelly, 45, was the first to arrive as she looked very glamorous in a £250 yellow and orange dress from Louisa Ballou
Kelly was spotted in Heathrow Airport bound for Brisbane on Saturday wearing a less glamorous matching brown tracksuit
Meanwhile Emmerdale star Lisa was the second contestant to arrive in Australia as she declared: ‘We did “Dingle Down Under” many years ago, so it’s only fair that we do it again’
When asked what she would miss most about the UK, she said: ‘My dog Teddy and my husband Jeremy.
‘But I’m looking forward to surfing and seeing my distant cousin I’ve not seen for a long time and the Koalas and Kangaroos of course. I’m not sure about sleeping under the stars, I’m hoping she has a spare room.’
Meanwhile Emmerdale star Lisa, who has played Mandy Dingle on the ITV soap for 11 years, was the second contestant to arrive in Australia as she declared: ‘We did “Dingle Down Under” many years ago, so it’s only fair that we do it again.’
The comment was in reference to the Emmerdale film, The Dingles Down Under, which came out in 1997.
Wearing a nude plunging top, black jumper draped over her shoulders and leggings, the actress, 49, did not pack light as she told the Daily Mail she had ‘lots of bling’ in her four suitcases.
Lisa said: ‘My family are really rooting for me, they’re really happy that I’m here. I’m fine with creepy crawlings, I’ve worked on a farm for many years so it’s part of the job being Mandy Dingle.
‘I’m looking forward to the lovely people, I’m a people person, and somebody who likes to chatter. I’ve got lots of stuff because I’m such a girlie girl.’
Lisa added: ‘There’s a lot of bling, I’ve just got many options.’
The soap star revealed she had a ‘terrific’ 22 hour flight because she had managed to sleep and will now head off to a secret location where she will stay for several days without a phone until pre-show filming begins.
Other celebs flying Down Under include YouTuber Morgan Burtwistle, known as Angryginge, musician Martin Kemp, comedian Ruby Wax, TV presenter Alex Scott and Jack Osbourne. They are expected to be joined by comedian Eddie Kadi, rapper Aitch, and presenter Vogue Williams.
It comes after she was spotted on Saturday leaving Heathrow Airport looking remarkably less elegant in a brown matching tracksuit.
Kelly is set to follow in the footsteps of Myleene, whose white bikini moment on the ITV show gained notoriety after it aired back in 2006.
Myleene previously revealed that the first white bikini she wore in 2006 sold for a whopping £7,500 after the show – after she bought it for just £40.
Kelly is renowned for her hourglass curves and first found fame after forging a career as a lingerie model and Page Three girl for The Daily Star.
Ahead of her appearance on the programme, she is said to have packed a large collection of swimwear for her ‘moment’.
Back in 2018, Kelly said there would be ‘a million’ other things she would rather do like working in her local pub, than appear in the jungle.
‘I don’t want to eat eyeballs or sheep testicles and all the things they have to eat on there,’ she said on her Heart radio show.
‘Even if I had a huge tax bill and I had to pay it really urgently, I still wouldn’t do it.’
But it was thought she was finally persuaded by a big money deal as she joins soap, music and comedy legends in the line-up ahead of the show’s return later this month.
Kelly Brook is reportedly set to ‘recreate Myleene Klass’ iconic I’m A Celebrity …Get Me Out Of Here! shower moment’ in a bid to have her ‘moment and shine’
The model, 45, is set to follow in the footsteps of Myleene, whose white bikini moment on the ITV show gained notoriety after it aired back in 2006 (pictured left)
Also heading down under is comedy legend Ruby Wax, 72, whose best known work includes TV show Girls On Top and film Shock, and she has also written for BBC programme Absolutely Fabulous.
The show has also signed soap icons Shona McGarty, who played Whitney Dean on EastEnders between 2008 to 2024, and Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley, known for her role as Mandy Dingle.
They will join actor and Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp, 64, as well as broadcasters Alex Scott, 41, and Vogue Williams, 40.
Jack Osbourne, 39, is also set to enter camp just four months after his rocker father Ozzy’s tragic death.
