Fans of I'm a Celebrity are delighted to be getting a fix of the jungle action earlier in the year with some famous faces from over the past 20 years of the hit ITV show. Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan is one of the all-star line-up taking part in the I'm A Celebrity ...Get Me Out Of Here! spin-off set in South Africa.
Helen, from Bury, is on the pre-recorded show to undergo more tough bushtucker trials. She competed with campmates including Bolton boxer Amir Khan, TV presenter Carol Vorderman and fomer royal butler Paul Burrell in a bid to be crowned the first I’m A Celebrity Legend.
Helen, who first took part in the 12th series of I'm A Celebrity back in 2012, left viewers gobsmacked with her first challenge which saw the Rosie Webster actress leap across giant balls suspended in the air as part of the Newton's Cradle challenge to grab a star. After letting campmates Phil Tufnell and Fatima Whitbread go first, she took a breath and left fans seriously impressed with her pluck despite not reaching the star at the end.
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Telling cricket star Phil and ex-javelin thrower Fatima that she was having a 'mind chat' she reassured herself while suspended in the air: "You are safe. You are calm, you can do this. Wait for the wind to calm down and jump."
@Amber_louisex3 tweeted: "Well done helen! Different approach this time round! Mind over matter." And @scanv8 praised: "Amazing what ten years has done to helen's balls."
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@amybywaterr tweeted: "Fair play Helen Flanagan for giving that a go." @mishybabez_applauded: "So bloody proud of Helen Flanagan she smashed that challenge." @atvfriend said: "Full Kudos Helen she did amazing."
Ahead of the episode being screened Helen took to Instagram Stories to say: "The trail I did to get to the jungle was horrendous. I thought I was in a weird dream. I could never do it again."
Later she shared an adorable video of herself settling down to watch with her eldest daughter Matila. Helen looked emotional and gave Matilda a hug as she proudly told her mum: "You're brilliant." And Helen was joined for I'm a Celeb viewing by her brother-in-law.
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"Now that took balls!" exclaimed the official I'm a Celebity Instagram as the praise poured in. virtualtrucker1 enthused: "Miss Flanagan RESPECT!"
Helen left Corrie in 2018 to go on maternity leave. She shares three children with footballer Scott Sinclair - Matilda, seven, Delilah, four and two-year-old son Charlie.
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