š“ MANDY DINGLE IN THE JUNGLE?! Emmerdale star Lisa Riley lands in Australia for Iām A Celebrity ā and sheās ready to face every creepy-crawly.
EmmerdaleĀ favouriteĀ Lisa RileyĀ has officially landed in Australia as she prepares to swap the Dales for the jungle. The beloved actress, best known for playingĀ Mandy Dingle, was all smiles as she arrived atĀ Brisbane AirportĀ on Sunday ā just days before heading into theĀ Iām A Celebrity⦠Get Me Out of Here!Ā camp.
A Dingle Down Under
Looking radiant after the long flight, Lisa couldnāt resist poking fun at her upcoming adventure, joking that she was āreturning to film a new versionā ofĀ Emmerdale: The Dingles Down Under, a 1997 special that saw the iconic soap family head to Australia.
āWe didĀ Dingles Down UnderĀ many years ago, so itās only fair that we doĀ Dingles Down UnderĀ again,ā she laughed. āIām a Dingle ā I can cope with anything. Iām from the North! Us Northerners, weāre made of tough skin.ā
The 49-year-old actress looked thrilled to be on Australian soil, even as she wheeledĀ four suitcasesĀ through the terminal ā admitting sheād packed plenty of options. āIāve got a lot of bling,ā she said. āIāve just got many options because Iām such a girly-girl.ā
No Fear of Creepy-Crawlies
While many celebrities dread the infamous Bushtucker Trials, Lisa insisted sheās not fazed by jungle life.
āIāve worked on a farm for years playing Mandy Dingle ā itās part of the job! Iām just here to have fun and a real good laugh.ā
The actress added that sheās looking forward to meeting ālots of lovely peopleā in camp, calling herself āa total people person.ā
Why Lisaās Perfect for the Jungle
An ITV insider toldĀ The SunĀ that Lisaās charm and humour make her a perfect fit forĀ Iām A Celebrity:
āLisa is the perfect celebrity for the show. Sheās from one of ITVās biggest soaps, sheās hilarious, mischievous, and loved by millions. Viewers are going to adore her.ā
Lisa follows in the footsteps of otherĀ EmmerdaleĀ stars whoāve taken on the jungle, and producers reportedly believe sheāll be a huge hit with audiences.
Famous Faces Arriving in Brisbane
Lisa isnāt the only familiar face touching down this week.Ā Kelly BrookĀ was the first celebrity spotted arriving, looking glowing in a yellow dress despite a 24-hour flight. The model, 45, teased her appearance with playful banter, joking about āvisiting a distant cousinā and looking forward to āseeing koalas and kangaroos.ā
Meanwhile, fellow contestantĀ Shona McGartyĀ ā known for her role as Whitney Dean inĀ EastEndersĀ ā was seen flying out from Heathrow following her recent breakup, posting about ānew beginningsā just hours before departure.
Lisaās Jungle Outlook: āBring It Onā
Lisaās fearless energy has already made her a fan favourite before sheās even stepped foot in camp. Whether itās tackling critters, eating trials, or keeping camp morale high, the actress seems ready for anything.
āIām a Dingle ā Iāll survive!ā she said with a grin.
Fans can expect to see Lisa join her fellow celebrities whenĀ Iām A Celebrity⦠Get Me Out of Here!Ā returns later this month onĀ ITV1 and ITVX.