Former EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison "desperately" wants to enter the I'm A Celebrity jungle but claims a "silly" ITV rule has scuppered her chances.
The 56-year-old actress, famed for playing lovable Heather Trott on the long-running BBC soap, opened up about her desire to take part in the popular ITV series while chatting on The Hundamental Guide to Life podcast.
Cheryl revealed she has wanted to enter the jungle "her whole life" but believes ITV won't allow her, The Sun have reported.
She claims the fact she was on Big Brother - previously on Channel 4 and Channel 5 - means she can't sign up for the hit show, which will return later this year.
I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, which has been an annual fixture on ITV since 2002, sees a group of celebrities venture to the jungle in Australia where they are subjected to extreme conditions and a number of elaborate trials which must be completed in a bid to earn food for the camp.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 seasons took place at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, Wales. This year, it will return to Australia.
During her appearance on The Hundamental Guide to Life, a podcast hosted by Gareth Howells, Cheryl revealed how keen she is to sign up for the beloved ITV show. She said: "I've desperately wanted to, the whole of my life, even pre-Big Brother, do the jungle. But unfortunately, if you've done Big Brother you cannot go into the jungle.
"For some reason ITV think it's too near. I think it's silly."
While speaking on the podcast, Cheryl also opened up about her character Heather's relatability online.
The popular character has been the subject of many internet memes but Cheryl sees the funny side. She said: "I'm never offended by anything that goes out like that."
The actress added: "If you can identify with something, a group, a person, anything that it will give you the confidence to build yourself as a person because you have a connection with something.
So to me, it's you know, memes are just people's way of expressing what they're going on - what's going on in their minds and I love that.
"I love it because it means I've been accessible to, you know, a large group of people."
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033
