‘Embrace the challenges!'

As the campmates begin their second week in the castle, we talk to reigning champion Giovanna Fletcher

- REBECCA FLETCHER

I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE!

SATURDAY-FRIDAY / ITV / 9PM / ENTERTAINMENT

Giovanna Fletcher knows first-hand how tough things will get for the contestants taking part in this year’s series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me out of Here!

‘It’s certainly not comfortable in the castle!’ says the presenter and podcaster, 36, whose sunny outlook and caring nature in last year’s series saw her crowned the first ‘queen of the castle’ last December.

‘I’m sure some people go in thinking, “Oh, it’s TV, they’ll be handing out hot toast in the mornings” – er, they don’t! And the beds are rock hard and it’s very cold!’

Yet, despite all that, and being covered in creepy-crawlies and made to eat raw fish eyes in the gruelling Bushtucker Trials, Giovanna – who is married to McFly star and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Tom Fletcher – says the experience was ‘amazing’.

Here, in an exclusive chat with TV Times, mum-of-three Giovanna looks back on her time in the castle and shares her advice for the latest line-up of celebs…

So, we assume you’ll be glued to this year’s show, Giovanna…

Absolutely! And I’ll keep going, ‘Ooh, that’s my bed,’ and, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t have cooked it like that!’

Can you believe you were in the castle less than a year ago?