American reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner will take part in this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! after reports that she has been paid a sizeable fee to enter the jungle.
The former Olympic athlete will be joined in the ITV series by retired footballer and pundit Ian Wright, ex-Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle, Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway and former EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa.
Radio DJs Roman Kemp and Adele Roberts are also heading into the jungle, along with comedian Andrew Maxwell, ex-England rugby player James Haskell and Rak-Su singer Myles Stephenson.
The 10 celebrities will move into a camp in Australia where they will undertake a number of challenges, including the often stomach-churning bushtucker trials, in a bid to win over the viewing public and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle.
Jenner, 70, is widely reported to be one of the highest-paid celebrities to ever take part in the show, with various outlets suggesting she will earn about £500,000.
Jenner, who was born Bruce and was an Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete before finding TV fame on the series Keeping Up With The Kardashians, revealed her identity as a trans woman in April 2015.
She was previously married to Kris Jenner, the mother of Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Rob Kardashian, and has daughters Kendall and Kylie Jenner with her.
Jenner said that, when her famous family members asked her why she chose to do I’m A Celebrity, she said: “You know what, I need a break, I like challenges.”
She took part in the US version of the reality show in 2003 along with stars including actor and choreographer Cris Judd, model Tyson Beckford and TV host Melissa Rivers, and Jenner said she was keen to try it again with British stars, although “being in the jungle is certainly not easy”.
She said that it is “totally back to basics, but I thought this would be a great opportunity to leave everything behind for three weeks.
“Last time, it was almost like a cleansing of the soul.”
Jenner added: “Dealing with other people is by far the hardest thing. It’s much more difficult than dealing with the most poisonous snakes in the world. That’s easy – just stay away from them.
“You can’t get away from the other people, and it will be a very different experience for me.
“Last time, I did it with a bunch of people from the States who I knew of. This time it’s a bunch of people from the UK who I potentially won’t know.
“But I love going over to the UK, I love the British people and I am looking forward to making some new friends, new allies and getting through it all.”
Jenner said that her dream camp-mate would be rapper Kanye West, the husband of stepdaughter Kim, because “he is a good friend of mine and he’s good to have an intelligent and interesting conversation with”.
She also said that her role in the camp will be “peace-maker”, adding: “I am also very handy making things, and I am good at boiling water.
“I will also keep the fire going and when it starts raining, I will make little streams to go outside the camp rather than through it.”
The new series of I’m A Celebrity will see the return of host Ant McPartlin alongside his long-time presenting partner Declan Donnelly.
McPartlin was replaced by Holly Willoughby in the jungle-based series last year, as he took a step back from TV commitments.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! starts on Sunday November 17 at 9pm on ITV.