‘I HAVE A FEAR OF GETTING OUT OF BED – NEVER MIND CREEPY-CRAWLIES!'

AS RUMOURS OF AN APPEARANCE ON I’M A CELEBRITY SWIRL ARLENEPHILLIPS TALKS ABOUT HOW SHE’D FARE ON THE SHOW AND TELLS OF HER PRIDE AT BECOMING A DAME

- KIRSTY HATCHER

Dame Arlene Phillips relished dressing up in colourful outfits for our exclusive shoot. But she is reportedly set to hit our screens wearing far less glamorous kit – rumours are swirling that she will be joining the cast of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this week.

And while Arlene, 78, can neither confirm nor deny this yet, she does tell us she’s certainly not “Miss Fearless” with creepy-crawlies. “My family always laugh at me because they all camp and I’m definitely not a camper,” she giggles.

The choreographer, theatre director and former Strictly Come Dancing judge, who was awarded her Damehood earlier this year, has been hitting the headlines a lot of late. As well as the rumoured I’m A Celebrity appearance, Arlene was reported to be replacing John Barrowman as a judge on Dancing On Ice and making a one-off return to Strictly. And she has teamed up with the National Lottery Awards 2021 to present an award to a cause that is very close to her heart.

Here, Arlene – who lives in north London with partner Angus Ion, 67, and is mother to daughters Abi, 30, and Alana, 42 – tells us how she’d cope on I’m A Celebrity, clears up some rumours and reveals whether or not she’ll ever slow down…

Hi, Arlene! We know you can’t comment on your potential I’m A Celebrity involvement but what do you think of the show?

All I can say is that I am the biggest coward in the world. I’m not courageous. Every time I watch the show, I absolutely admire those people who fearlessly enter into it. I’m the type of person who holds back.

What are you like with creepy crawlies?