But there is no sight of Higgins as the series starts with a bumper-length opening episode that introduces the first 10 participants and sees boxing champ McGuigan come unstuck in his very own bungled rumble in the jungle. The former flyweight title-holder is chosen alongside McFly’s Danny Jones to take part in the season’s first Bushtucker Trial, the Mausoleum of Misery. This involves the two celebs locked in dimly lit chambers and solving clues while avoiding snakes.
All in a quest for tokens that can be traded for bonus suppertime treats. [ I’m A Celebrity ..
. Get Me Out Of Here: will Maura Higgins join, when does it start, who will win and more Opens in new window ] McGuigan isn’t bothered by the slithery interlopers. He is instead flummoxed by the poor lighting and fails to claim any of the all-important stars.
It’s an inauspicious introduction for the chipper Monaghan native who cuts a quietly competitive figure as the show kicks off its traditional three-week pre-Christmas run. Launch night has lots of what we have come to expect of I’m A Celebrity. This includes awkward meet-ups between C-listers who aren’t quite sure who the other person is (YouTuber GK Barry does not recognise McGuigan – and vice versa).
The exception is Coleen Rooney , whom everyone knows – and is on the receiving end of an early gag about participating in a trial that “doesn’t involve Rebekah Vardy ” (a reference to the Wagatha Christie controversy). She is among the second.