Why I’m A Celebrity star Lisa Riley is exempt from gruesome trial
ITVs I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! is set to return next month, with a number of new faces entering the jungle to take on the gruelling Bushtucker Trials
The I’m A Celebrity 2025 cast includes Shona McGarty, Eddie Kadi, Aitch, Alex Scott MBE, Jack Osbourne, Lisa Riley, Kelly Brook, Angry Ginge, Ruby Wax OBE and Martin Kemp (Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
The latest series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is nearly upon us, with a new group of famous faces preparing to enter the Australian jungle and face Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly’s notorious Bushtucker Trials.
ITV has announced that Emmerdale star Lisa Riley, Loose Women’s Kelly Brook, Martin Kemp and Eddie Kadi, Alex Scott, Shona McGarty and Jack Osbourne will all be participating this year.
Yet it has now emerged that Lisa will be excluded from certain particularly revolting trials.
I’m A Celebrity regularly features contestants swimming alongside crocodiles, suspended at great heights, confined in boxes with insects or searching for stars amongst serpents in order to secure stars for their food, reports OK!.
They also participate in disgusting eating tasks, which may involve everything from “vomit fruit” to spiders, fish eyes or even animal genitals.
Lisa Riley is one of the stars heading into the jungle (Image: ITV)
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Nevertheless, it’s improbable Lisa would participate in those, as she follows a vegetarian diet and would consequently likely be excused.
Before her time in the jungle, she revealed: “It’s going to be ace! I will be there for everyone but I don’t suffer fools gladly. My inner Mandy Dingle will come out if someone is mean!”
In 2019, I’m A Celebrity implemented a significant modification to the challenges following complaints regarding the inclusion of live insects being consumed.
The eating challenges are always some of the worst (Image: ITV)
Wildlife presenter Chris Packham praised the decision as “a first step”, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “I hope this is the start of some significant change, what’s long concerned me about the programme is that is portrays animals in the wrong way.
“There was never any ambiguity that eating live invertebrates was abuse and also exploitation for entertainment.”
This comes after I’m A Celebrity bosses insisted this will be the “toughest” year yet, with executive producer Olly Nash telling The Daily Mail: “It’s a tough and gruelling show, and there’s nothing wrong with driving that home.
The Mandy Dingle actress will be taking on the bushtucker trials (Image: ITV)
“We need to see more celebrities earning their keep, that’s the most important thing. We have more celebrities taking part in the trials than we ever have before, so it’s more of a competition.
“Last year, we had a great positive happy cast that all joined together and had a happy time. This year they are going to have to fight more, earn more and play a bigger part in camp.”
Meanwhile, the programme has undergone another shake-up this year to ensure the contestants don’t face repeated Bushtucker Trials, as a new rule states they can only do two challenges in a row and can’t be voted in for a third.
A source said: “This is a great move for fans of the show so we don’t see the same faces doing the trials, as well as uncovering new favourites. Plus it’s a win-win for the celebs too, who are keen for more chances to get their personalities across.”
