She is officially confirmed as a contestant for the 2020 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Outta Here, which will take place at the Gwrych Castle site in North Wales.
And Beverley Callard believes her fans will be expecting her to enter in a wonder bra and short skirt, thanks to her Coronation Street character, Liz McDonald’s iconic dress sense.
The actress, 63, admitted she is the complete opposite of her former soap character, and she also revealed what worries her the most about leaving the cobbles of Corrie for the Welsh campsite.
First impression: She is confirmed for I’m A Celeb 2020 and Beverley Callard believes her fans will be expecting her to enter in a wonder bra and short skirt, thanks to her Corrie character Liz McDonald’s iconic dress sense
Speaking as the full I’m A Celeb 2020 lineup was unveiled on Sunday, Beverley said of her fans’ perception: ‘They do see me as Liz and I think they think I will be going in with a wonder bra on and a very short skirt!
‘I think as I have played Liz for so long, people think I am quite glamorous and they think I am covered in make-up all the time.
‘To be totally honest, I am just the opposite! I hate being dressed up and I don’t care if my nails break either! I am quite at home in comfy baggy clothes.’
Beverley played the endearing Liz for more than 30 years before she exited the ITV soap for good earlier in 2020, but she was unable to film a dramatic exit scene due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ready? The actress, 63, admitted she is the complete opposite of her former soap character, and she also revealed what worries her the most about the upcoming Welsh campsite
According to the star, she felt now was the perfect time to try I’m A Celebrity, after been asked to appear on the show numerous times, and after she was reportedly offered a £125,000 paycheck.
She said: ‘I felt that after 31 years Liz had run her course and normally, I would have said “thank you but no thank you”.
‘But this year, I decided to go for it. Doing I’m A Celebrity is an adventure and definitely out of my comfort zone!’
The thespian revealed what concerns her the most about her forthcoming appearance on I’m A Celeb, and whether she will be a happy camper or a nightmare contestant.
She said: ‘I think I will be the cleaner upper in the camp but if they need me to cook, they will starve! I am rubbish!
‘I think I will be OK living with strangers but the only thing that worries me is the toilet side of things and personal hygiene.’
The 63-year-old has been at home in recent months as she recovered from a botched hip operation, sparking fears that she might not be able to appear on the show.
But Beverley is now ready to rumble in the I’m A Celeb jungle. While she is certain to miss her husband of ten-years, Jon McEwan, she is excited to experience a different environment and meet some new faces.
Confirmed! Stars such as Sir Mo Farah, AJ Pritchard, Vernon Kay, Jessica Plummer, Shane Richie, Victoria Derbyshire, Giovanna Fletcher, Hollie Arnold, and Jordan North, are all announced as part of this year’s line up
‘After lockdown because I had a hip operation I was still at home,’ she said. ‘But I am not good at being at home and I have not met any new people for months, so this chance will be really good.
‘Sitting around the camp doesn’t bother me because it is a chance to chat!’
Stars such as Sir Mo Farah, AJ Pritchard, Vernon Kay, Jessica Plummer, Shane Richie, Victoria Derbyshire, Giovanna Fletcher, Hollie Arnold, and Jordan North, are all announced as part of this year’s line up.
The new series starts next Sunday at 9pm on ITV.
I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE! 2020: Who are the celebrities?
Name: SIR MO FARAH CBE
Age: 37
Claim to fame: The most successful British track athlete in Olympic Games history
Phobias: Any animal that moves
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: It will be nice for people to see me doing something other than running
Role in the camp: Cook
Miss most: Coffee, my wife and children
Dream campmate: Samuel L Jackson would be pretty cool
Relationship status: Married
Name: SHANE RITCHIE
Age: 56
Phobias: Human faeces. If I see one, it is over! I am hoping the camp toilet will be enclosed
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: Nothing. I don’t think I am that interesting
Role in the camp: Person who will muck in with anything
Miss most: My family and routine at home
Dream campmate: Eric Cantona, any 80s’ pop star or The Roc
Relationship status: Married
Name: BEVERLEY CALLARD
Age: 63
Claim to fame: Corrie legend
Phobias: Ghosts and insects
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: People think I am glamorous as I have played Liz for so long but I am not
Role in the camp: Cleaner
Miss most: Dogs and my husband, Jon
Dream campmate: Ricky Gervais – he would keep us all going
Relationship status: Married
Name: AJ PRITCHARD
Age: 26
Claim to fame: Former Strictly professional
Phobias: Heights, claustrophobia
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: People see me with sparkles and fake tan but nobody knows what I am like
Role in the camp: Keeping spirits up and the cleaner
Miss most: My warm and comfy bed
Dream campmate: Any celebrity with an intriguing background
Relationship status: Dating
Name: VERNON KAY
Age: 46
Claim to fame: TV and radio presenter
Phobias: I don’t like being confined underwater!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I think I have always been the same throughout my career – so I don’t have any.
Role in the camp: Person to keep spirits up.
Miss most: My family.
Dream camper: Anybody who has won the Super Bowl!
Relationship status: Married.
Name: VICTORIA DERBYSHIRE
Age: 52
Claim to fame: Award-winning journalist
Phobias: I am not a fan of spiders or confined spaces and I don’t know what I am going to be like when I get there!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I don’t think I have any as people just know me as the news and current affairs person!
Role in the camp: Shoulder to cry on.
Miss most: My boys, husband, dog and Mum.
Dream campmate: Madonna, Gary Lineker and Jamie Oliver to cook for us. I think you could have some really geeky chats with them!
Relationship status: Married.
Name: GIOVANNA FLETCHER
Age: 35
Claim to fame: Author and podcaster
Phobias: Heights. My legs go wobbly and you can’t rationalise it
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I am not that controversial so nothing
Role in the camp: Mum, friend and the giver of hugs
Miss most: My husband, Tom, and my three children
Dream campmate: The Queen, Judi Dench and Ant Middleton so he can help us with all the survival skills
Relationship status: Married
Name: JESSICA PLUMMER
Age: 28
Claim to fame: Former EastEnders actress
Phobias: Arachnophobia, fear of heights –just about every phobia
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: It will be nice for people to see me for who I am rather than my EastEnders character
Role in the camp: Chatterbox and little sister
Miss most: My daughter. It’s going to be the longest we’ve been apart
Dream campmate: Denzel Washington would be awesome. I would listen to every word he said
Relationship status: Single
Name: JORDAN NORTH
Age: 30
Claim to fame: Radio 1 DJ
Phobias: It’s just easier to say what I am not scared of. I have so many phobias
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: On my Radio 1 show, I am always bubbly and energetic but everyone has down moments too, so it will be nice for people to see what I am really like
Role in the camp: Entertainer and the tidy up person –I love a tidy house
Miss most: A nice cool pint of Guinness
Dream campmate: Barack Obama and Liam Gallagher. He would be great entertainment value
Relationship status: Single
Name: HOLLIE ARNOLD MBE
Age: 26
Claim to fame: Paralympic gold medallist
Phobias: Spiders
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I don’t want it to focus on my disability
Role in the camp: Cook/shoulder to cry on
Miss most: My boyfriend, food and my cats
Dream campmate: Michelle Keegan –she is beautiful
Relationship status: Dating