I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’s Lisa Riley has revealed the reason why she signed up to the ITV show as she headed to the jungle on Sunday.
The Emmerdale star, 49, was seen pushing her luggage through the airport as shed touched down in Australia.
Walking to her gate, Lisa proved her abilities to compete as she stated that ‘us northerners are made of tough skin’.
She added: ‘I have worked on a farm for many years on Emmerdale, so you know it’s part of the job being Mandy Dingle, I suppose. I am just here to have fun and have a real good laugh’.
As she walked to her gate, Lisa, who wore a nude, low-cut top which layered under a black cardigan, looked elated.
She was then seen stepping in a white taxi and waving goodbye.
I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!’s Lisa Riley, 49, has revealed the reason why she signed up to the ITV show as she headed to the jungle on Sunday
The Emmerdale star was seen pushing her luggage through the Airport in Australia as she appeared confident ahead of the show
Lisa, who has played Mandy Dingle on the ITV soap for 11 years, was the second contestant to arrive in Australia.
Upon her arrival, 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.
Lisa did not pack light for her trip 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 crawlies, 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.
Walking to her gate, Lisa proved her abilities to compete as she stated that ‘us northerners are made of tough skin’
Lisa did not pack light for her trip as she told the Daily Mail she had ‘lots of bling’ in her four suitcases
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.
Lisa, who turns 50 next year, previously shared her hopes of taking part in the show, saying: ‘I’m A Celebrity… is something I would do before I turned 50 as a test for myself.’
Last year’s series saw McFly’s Danny Jones crowned series champion, beating a star-studded lineup that included Coleen Rooney, Maura Higgins, GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles.
However, the married singer has since courted controversy, as in March he was filmed sharing a drunken kiss with his campmate Maura.
Lisa first joined the cast of Emmerdale as Mandy Dingle in 1995, but left the soap six years later.
She went on to land a string of other roles, including Fat Friends and Waterloo Road, and in 2013 she competed on Strictly Come Dancing.
18 years after her soap exit, Lisa returned to Emmerdale, admitting that after being asked about reprising her role for years by fans, she finally realised she never had a reason not to return.
She said: ‘I’m the type of person that must have an answer, I can’t leave anything open-ended.
‘I was working for Strictly in doing a Q and A and there were 4,000 people asking me when I was going back to Emmerdale. But I’ve had that since the day I left.’
Earlier this year, it was reported that ITV was planning to keep I’m A Celebrity on screens for the next five years, bringing the show up to a landmark 30th series.
Sources claimed ITV has opened talks with Australian bosses to secure the area of jungle where they film until 2030.
