MCFLY star Danny Jones and Coronation Street’s Alan Halsall have arrived in Australia ahead of the new series of I’m A Celebrity.
Musician Danny, 38, touched down this morning after a long-haul flight from London’s Heathrow Airport.
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Danny Jones has finally arrived in Australia for I’m A CelebrityCredit: Rex
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Alan Halsall looked delighted to be in the countryCredit: Rex
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Danny stood with a beaming Joel Dommett in arrivalsCredit: The Sun
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Jungle king Sam Thompson looked delighted to be back in the countryCredit: Rex
There was a delay before the plane could touch down due to a severe lightning storm that temporarily closed Brisbane Airport’s runway.
But it eventually landed safe and sound over an hour late.
In a bid to keep his jungle stint under wraps, Danny told The Sun he was in the country to record a solo album.
He added he’s now off for a steak and couldn’t wait to hit the country’s famous waves for some surfing.
Wearing an Oasis T-shirt, Danny said of the trip: “A bit of a hairy flight but it was perfect.
“The McFly boys don’t know it, I’m here to do a solo album.
“They think I’m out here doing other things, but I’m here to do a solo album.”
The music star might have a slim advantage over his campmates as he admitted to being bitten by a snake before.
He said: “I go camping every year with my mates.
“I got bit by a snake once. Not fun. Not fun at all.”
Masked Singer winner Danny Jones reveals extreme way ITV stopped his McFly bandmates spoiling show – and how he hid it from his kids
Danny, who has brought his trusty guitar with him to Oz, was joined on his flight by jungle spin-off show hosts Sam Thompson, Joel Dommett and Kemi Rodgers.
Tyrone Dobbs actor Alan’s flight landed a couple of hours later and he insisted he was in the country to play golf as he walked through arrivals.
Asked if he was excited, Alan said: “I’m just here to play golf. That’s all I’m here for.
“I don’t know what all this is. Just a bit of golf for me.”
He dodged questions about camping and when asked about the creepy crawlies awaiting him Down Under, he said: “Nah, not on the golf course obviously.
“I’m not sure what camping’s got to do with it – I’m not gonna be camping on the golf course, am I?
“It’s a long way to play golf, but I’m an avid fan of golf.”
He joked his golf clubs “have been taken straight to the hotel”.
And when asked if his fellow Corrie star and pal Andy Whyment – a former jungle contestant – had given him tips on Oz, he said: “I wouldn’t take any advice of Andy Whyment, to be honest.”
They are staying at Cabarita Beach with their families during the show – a much more luxurious affair than the celebs in the jungle.
The Voice star Danny might not be so happy when he is faced with all manner of creepy crawlies.
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Sam, Kemi Rodgers and Joel have joined Danny in AustraliaCredit: Rex
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Danny is well-known a member of McFlyCredit: Getty
His past issues with anxiety may prove a stumbling block when it comes to tackling the infamous Bushtucker Trials.
Speaking previously to The Bolton News, the musician explained: “I experienced claustrophobia, coming out in cold sweats, feeling a band tightening around my chest and worrying I was having a heart attack.
“It’s so scary and I’ve felt like I was dying on occasions. You can’t believe your body can do that to you. I was also plagued with dark thoughts I couldn’t control.”
It means he’s now following in the footsteps of bandmate Dougie Poynter and his other bandmate Tom Fletcher‘s wife Giovanna – who have both previously won the show.
A jungle insider said: “As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he’ll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home.
“All the McFly guys are gym fanatics and Danny in particular has a great physique – which he’s bound to show off in the jungle.
“He’ll be keeping up with the proud tradition of I’m A Celebrity hunks who’ve been on the show over the years including Owen Warner and Joel Dommett.
“And he’ll fill the jungle hunk gap left by Tommy Fury after he declined the opportunity earlier this month.”
Wag Coleen is said to be earning £1.5m for her time in the jungle and is also getting a pass when it comes to certain trials.
The 38-year-old wife of former Englandstriker Wayne has painful reactive arthritis, which affects the joints and is set off by stress.
It means she may be exempt from some challenges in the upcoming series.
A source said: “Execs want to keep her happy and healthy.”
I’m A Celebrity returns to ITV and ITVX on November 17.
I’m A Celebrity 2024
As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The Sun’s Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year…
Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will be making a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to head into the camp this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
Tulisa – The popstar and former X Factor judge looks set to be making a triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year’s I’m A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
Alan Halsall – The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities when he gets into camp.
Melvin Odoom – The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet – the Aussie jungle.
GK Barry – The UK’s biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brand such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
Dean McCullough – A rising star amongst this year’s bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
Oti Mabuse – The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She origianlly found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Danny Jones – The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he’s now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom. A jungle insider said: “As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he’ll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home.”
Maura Higgins – The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge – having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane’s first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
Barry McGuigan – Former pro boxer Barry will become the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to breast cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: “She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache.”
Rev. Richard Coles – Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is set for I’m A Celebrity — and is ready to let rip at his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year.An insider said: “Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth.”
