I’m A Celebrity 2020: Jessica Plummer breaks down during show launch as EastEnders star reveals she already misses daughter Noa, four
Stars of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! will have to battle through three weeks of horrifying trials as the first UK series gets well-underway.
And it seemed camp life had already taken its toll on Jessica Plummer during Sunday’s launch show, as she revealed that she was already missing her daughter.
The soap star, 28, tearfully explained to the other girls that she had told her daughter Noa, four, to ‘look for the moon’ whenever she missed her.
Emotional: Jessica Plummer teared up during Sunday’s much-anticipated launch show of I’m A Celebrity as she revealed that she was already missing her daughter
Speaking to Giovanna Fletcher, 35, and Hollie Arnold, 26, she continued: ‘I said to my daughter before we left each other that if she misses me when she’s at home, she looks for the moon, I can look at the moon and we can both see it.’
She has bid farewell to Noa for three weeks after setting off for Gwrych Castle in Abergele, North Wales, where she will be spending the duration of I’m A Celebrity.
The EastEnders actress previously revealed that she had recorded video messages for her little girl in her absence, as it is the longest longest amount of time she has spent away from her.
She told MailOnline earlier this week: ‘It’s strange, the closer I get to it the more excited I am to do the show but the more daunting it is to think I’m not going to see her for more than three weeks which is heartbreaking because currently the longest I’ve not seen her is four days.
Teary-eyed: It seemed camp life had taken its toll on the soap star, 28, as she explained to the other girls that she told her daughter Noa, four, to ‘look for the moon’ when she missed her
‘She’s my little girl. It’s gonna be really weird but I hope I just make her proud. Hopefully if it’s been pre-recorded and OK for her to watch she can watch me.
‘I recorded messages for her just like ”good morning,” literally I’ve pre-recorded up to three weeks just in case I’m there for the long haul so at least she’ll see me everyday.
‘She’ll be around family so I know she’s going to be absolutely fine but it will be strange for sure.’
Jessica is among ten celebrities joining the first ever UK series of I’m A Celebrity this year, after coronavirus saw the show relocate to Wales from Australia.
Joining Jessica in the castle this year are presenter Vernon Kay, 46, Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, 37, and Corrie icon Beverley Callard.
Family: Speaking to Giovanna Fletcher, 35, and Hollie Arnold, 26, she revealed that she was already missing her daughter soon after the contestants arrived at the derelict castle
Homesick: Jessica said: ‘I said to my daughter before we left each other that if she misses me when she’s at home, she looks for the moon, I can look at the moon and we can both see it’
And also competing for the title of King or Queen of the Castle will be AJ Pritchard, 26; Shane Richie, 56; Victoria Derbyshire, 52; Hollie Arnold, 26, and Jordan North, 30.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are hosting the series once again, while Vick Hope is fronting The Daily Drop, a brand-new series following all camp activity, available on ITV Hub every morning after the main show.
The Geordie duo, the contestants and crew will be tested for COVID-19 every three days throughout the series, with the campmates able to mix freely while they live in the camp as they form their own bubble.
The 2020 series, which kicked off with a bang on ITV on Sunday evening, is expected to last just 20 days – two shorter than normal.
I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE! 2020: Who are the celebrities?
Name: SIR MO FARAH CBE
Age: 37
Claim to fame: The most successful British track athlete in Olympic Games history
Phobias: Any animal that moves
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: It will be nice for people to see me doing something other than running
Role in the camp: Cook
Miss most: Coffee, my wife and children
Dream campmate: Samuel L Jackson would be pretty cool
Relationship status: Married
Name: SHANE RICHIE
Age: 56
Phobias: Human faeces. If I see one, it is over! I am hoping the camp toilet will be enclosed
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: Nothing. I don’t think I am that interesting
Role in the camp: Person who will muck in with anything
Miss most: My family and routine at home
Dream campmate: Eric Cantona, any 80s’ pop star or The Roc
Relationship status: Married
Name: BEVERLEY CALLARD
Age: 63
Claim to fame: Corrie legend
Phobias: Ghosts and insects
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: People think I am glamorous as I have played Liz for so long but I am not
Role in the camp: Cleaner
Miss most: Dogs and my husband, Jon
Dream campmate: Ricky Gervais – he would keep us all going
Relationship status: Married
Name: AJ PRITCHARD
Age: 26
Claim to fame: Former Strictly professional
Phobias: Heights, claustrophobia
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: People see me with sparkles and fake tan but nobody knows what I am like
Role in the camp: Keeping spirits up and the cleaner
Miss most: My warm and comfy bed
Dream campmate: Any celebrity with an intriguing background
Relationship status: Dating
Name: VERNON KAY
Age: 46
Claim to fame: TV and radio presenter
Phobias: I don’t like being confined underwater!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I think I have always been the same throughout my career – so I don’t have any.
Role in the camp: Person to keep spirits up.
Miss most: My family.
Dream camper: Anybody who has won the Super Bowl!
Relationship status: Married.
Name: VICTORIA DERBYSHIRE
Age: 52
Claim to fame: Award-winning journalist
Phobias: I am not a fan of spiders or confined spaces and I don’t know what I am going to be like when I get there!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I don’t think I have any as people just know me as the news and current affairs person!
Role in the camp: Shoulder to cry on.
Miss most: My boys, husband, dog and Mum.
Dream campmate: Madonna, Gary Lineker and Jamie Oliver to cook for us. I think you could have some really geeky chats with them!
Relationship status: Married.
Name: GIOVANNA FLETCHER
Age: 35
Claim to fame: Author and podcaster
Phobias: Heights. My legs go wobbly and you can’t rationalise it
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I am not that controversial so nothing
Role in the camp: Mum, friend and the giver of hugs
Miss most: My husband, Tom, and my three children
Dream campmate: The Queen, Judi Dench and Ant Middleton so he can help us with all the survival skills
Relationship status: Married
Name: JESSICA PLUMMER
Age: 28
Claim to fame: Former EastEnders actress
Phobias: Arachnophobia, fear of heights –just about every phobia
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: It will be nice for people to see me for who I am rather than my EastEnders character
Role in the camp: Chatterbox and little sister
Miss most: My daughter. It’s going to be the longest we’ve been apart
Dream campmate: Denzel Washington would be awesome. I would listen to every word he said
Relationship status: Single
Name: JORDAN NORTH
Age: 30
Claim to fame: Radio 1 DJ
Phobias: It’s just easier to say what I am not scared of. I have so many phobias
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: On my Radio 1 show, I am always bubbly and energetic but everyone has down moments too, so it will be nice for people to see what I am really like
Role in the camp: Entertainer and the tidy up person –I love a tidy house
Miss most: A nice cool pint of Guinness
Dream campmate: Barack Obama and Liam Gallagher. He would be great entertainment value
Relationship status: Single
Name: HOLLIE ARNOLD MBE
Age: 26
Claim to fame: Paralympic gold medallist
Phobias: Spiders
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I don’t want it to focus on my disability
Role in the camp: Cook/shoulder to cry on
Miss most: My boyfriend, food and my cats
Dream campmate: Michelle Keegan –she is beautiful
Relationship status: Dating