Featured Image Credit: ITV
Topics: Im A Celebrity, TV And Film
Jess Hardiman
A former I’m a Celebrity star has shared the one grim task contestants don’t actually have to do, despite appearances.
The reality series – which returns soon on ITV – is known for putting celebs through their paces, stripping back their luxurious lives and forcing them to mingle with creepy crawlies in the Australian outback, competing in gruelling physical tasks while also slumming it in a basic camp.
They often end up arguing about the politics of shared living, having been thrown into a new world of cooking dinner by campfire using basic rations, and kipping al fresco in sleeping bags.
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Phil Tufnell, who won the show back in 2003, has now shared some insider secrets from the series in his new memoir, revealing there’s actually one task they don’t have to do, even though people often think they’re responsible for it.
He also returned to the jungle last year to compete in the All Star series, making it to the final four before Myleene Klass was crowned queen.
“I got very close to Dean and Joe,” he said of his time on the show.
“Great lads, they came bouncing in like bouncy balls. Just full of life. And also Jordan, or the biggun' as I call him.”
Tufnell said he got on with everyone, adding: “Toff was great fun. Carol was beautiful and demure. Amir is a great lad, what a top block he is.
“Janice is absolutely lovely - and wild – crikey, there's not too many Janice's in the world.”
Tufnell also explained that contestants aren’t really forced to clean out the disgusting camp toilet, known as the dunny.
“A little secret here – the contestants remove the dunny, but don't actually empty it,” he said.
“They carry it down to a camouflaged wooden hut, tap on the door and clear off.
“It's basically an extreme version of that old knock-and-run game where you wrap a bit of dog muck in newspaper, set it on fire, drop it by someone's front door, ring the bell, and leg it.”
Tufnell said he was particularly fond of Shaun Ryder on the show, saying: "I mean, absolute legend, and we just have a laugh."
He added: "He makes me laugh and I think, especially with that stick, he looks like Yoda.
"Y'know the little bloke with the hessian cloak in Star Wars with the stick and the ears. I reckon he's gonna start levitating soon, haha."