Arlene Phillips set to be I’m A Celeb’s oldest ever campmate

The next series of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is now less than two months away and rumours about the line-up are getting serious. According to reports, former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips is the latest celeb to sign up for a stint in Wales’ Gwrych Castle.

If the rumours are true, Arlene’s appearance will be a record-breaker. She may not look it but at 78, she’d be the oldest campmate ever to appear on I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, beating the previous record set by Stanley Johnson—who was 77 years old when he went Down Under in 2017.

A TV source told The Mirror:

Arlene is strong and tough and her energy is boundless. No doubt she’ll have the group dancing around the campfire in a bid to beat the cold and keep morale high. Should be fun.

Who is Arlene Phillips?

Arlene Phillips has had a long and successful career as a choreographer for stage and screen. Nowadays, she is best known for being a member of the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel from 2004 to 2008. The BBC was accused of discriminating against older women when she was replaced by Alesha Dixon in 2009.

Not only will Arlene be I’m A Celeb’s oldest ever campmate, she’ll also be the first Dame to appear on the show, following Sir Mo Farah’s appearance last year. Arlene was given the title earlier this year in the Queen’s 2021 Birthday Honours for services to dance and charity.

Who else is on I’m A Celeb 2021?

While Arlene is the first solid signing rumour, many other names have been floating around for the I’m A Celeb 2021 line-up. The bookies’ favourites include Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing, Love Island’s Tommy Fury, diving superstar Tom Daley and Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall.