in life like flying. And by signing up for I’m a Celebrity, she hopes
stepping outside her comfort zone will give her renewed confidence.
“I really want to try something completely new. I am scared of so many things. I used to be brave. In the past, I’ve opened a restaurant, had a record label, had my daughter and it was go, go, go with all of these. Now I have got so fearful even being in the car, flying or general things. I think it is since I became a parent that I am much more afraid.”
“I really hope that by doing this, it pushes me so far out the comfort zone and that I learn to be comfortable, feel relaxed and do the things that I
didn’t used to be afraid of.”
Admitting she feels like it is a surreal dream now the day is fast approaching when she enters the Jungle with the other celebrities, Nadine says she is dreading being apart from her daughter. If she doesn’t get voted out first, it will be the longest they have been apart.
“I have been away for ten days for work before but not longer,” she says.
“I am dreading being away from everybody and not being able to phone and say ‘how are you doing?'"
“I am excited but it also feels like a dream still. I know it is going to be a whole different story when I get out there!”
She hopes her experience of running a restaurant will prove helpful in the camp when it comes to cooking meals even though she has never actually lit a fire outside before.
“There is going to be so much new stuff to learn,” she explains. ]
“I’ve never boiled water on a fire, chopped firewood, slept outside - I do hope I learn stuff about me and it’s the next phase.”
Recently single again, Nadine isn’t sure how she will cope surviving on beans and rice.
“I think I am very typical (of lots of people),” she says, “If you go
too long without stuff then horrible things can happen. My personality goes straight out the window! I am one of two personalities - I go quiet by trying to conserve the energy and the other is raging and going ‘noooo’!”
Her family, she goes on to add, have mixed emotions about Nadine’s decision to do the programme.
“Some of my friends and family were really shocked,” she admits. “They asked me what I was doing and pointed out I was afraid of my own shadow! But I am just hoping my Jungle lady will come out!
“My sister’s husband is an ex marine. He did offer to do some marine training with me in the run up to it but I thought that was a bit too extreme!”
I’m A Celebrity is Nadine’s first big TV project but she stresses she is not doing it to further her career.
“What I like about this is people are relying on you and it’s such an amazing opportunity,” she adds.
“And I am not even going there when it comes to the idea of winning! I have no Jungle experience and I can’t even imagine myself being in it.”
“I just want to enjoy it all. I am the middle sister in my family and so I do think I am good at being neutral in these kinds of situations. I hope I can help anybody in any way I can…”
Biggest misconception you want to
dispel in the Jungle: There’s nothing I can think of. This is so outside my
comfort zone!
Role in the camp: Cook and someone who is there to help with chores.
Miss most: My daughter, Anaiya.
Dream camper: Nadiya Hussain - she would be great for cooking us meals.
Missing any special occasion: No.
Relationship status: Single.