Emmerdale‘s Lisa Riley faced her fear of rats head-on ahead of entering the jungle for this year’s season of I’m A Celeb.
The Mandy Dingle actress, 49, bravely decided to hold a rat while taking a break from her day job, well aware of the many creepy crawlies that could await her in the Jungle and during Bushtucker Trials.
She could be seen visibly shaking in a video shared to her Instagram on Thursday before bravely allowing the rat to crawl up her arm and onto her shoulder.
She said: ‘He’s in my neck! He’s like a scarf that moves!’
Lisa couldn’t help but shut her eyes in fear after allowing a second rat to climb onto her other shoulder, before promptly bursting into tears.
She added: ‘You’ve got to think that it’s not what it is. Does that make sense? I’m thinking it’s like a toy is on my shoulder.’
Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley, 49, has faced her fear of rats head-on ahead of entering the jungle for this year’s season of I’m A Celeb
The actress bravely decided to hold a fancy rat while taking a break from her day job, well aware of the creepy crawlies that could await her in the jungle and during Bushtucker Trials
After some difficult experiences in her personal life, Lisa has decided that she wants to take on a big challenge before turning 50
‘It’s going to be ace!’ she said of her jungle stint. ‘I will be there for everyone but I don’t suffer fools gladly. My inner Mandy Dingle will come out if someone is mean!’
Lisa has reportedly been on the I’m A Celeb producers’ radar for years now, but she has always declined the opportunity to participate.
But after some difficult experiences in her personal life, she has decided that she wants to take on a big challenge before turning 50.
She Metro: ‘I lost my best friend not so long ago and mum got diagnosed at the age of 48 [with breast cancer], I’m 49.
‘Nothing can be as bad as that in life and I have got to see if I can do it. Every day is a blessing and I want to really enjoy everything.’
Emmerdale producers had to get ahead of the game with filming her scenes as she could be away for up to three weeks.
A source told The Sun: ‘Lisa filmed her scenes last week, Mandy goes to visit friends and will be back before you know it.
‘She’ll be back filming full throttle once she’s back from her trip down under too. Fans won’t have long to wait for her return once the scenes air next year.’
Lisa is best known for playing Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale, a role she has occupied since 1995
Emmerdale producers had to get ahead of the game with filming her scenes as she could be away for up to three weeks in the Australian jungle
Lisa will be exempt from aspects of the eating challenges because she is a vegetarian (pictured here is Sam Thompson taking on a food trial back in 2023 – he went on to win the show)
However, while Lisa clearly on planning on throwing herself headfirst into jungle life, she will be exempt from aspects of the eating challenges because she is a vegetarian.
This means that the soap star won’t have to chomp down on the likes of an animal’s genitals, fish eyes, cockroaches, live spiders or even a cow’s tongue.
But Lisa isn’t the only celebrity who has been exempt from the eating Bushtucker Trials over the years.
Back in 2020, Coronation Street star Beverley Callard, 68, was offered fermented tofu and fruit rather than animal parts during the eating challenges.
This year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! begins on Sunday at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.
