Coronation Street’s Jennie McAlpine has revealed she’ll miss her son Albert’s third birthday while she’s in the jungle.
The actress, best known as Fiz Brown on the cobbles, said it was a massive decision to sign up for the ITV show as it could mean weeks away from Albert if she stays until the very end
“I had to really think about this because the biggest thing is leaving my little boy,” she said.
“Even the thought of it beforehand made me shudder.”
Jennie, 33, will miss Albert’s third birthday – although he will be in Australia with her husband Chris while she’s in the jungle.
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“It’s going to be his birthday whilst I am in the jungle and I spend all my time with him when I am not working on Corrie,” she said.
“Leaving Albert when I first go into the camp will be my trial… It really will.
“I know Albert is going to have an amazing experience as he is coming to Australia with my husband and I.
“That will be lovely.”
Jennie said although it will be extremely hard to say goodbye to Albert, she was inspired to take part in I’m A Celebrity by her late father.
“I lost my dad earlier this year and that was a big thing. But I knew he would have told me to do it,” she said.
“He always told me to do stuff and he always encouraged me. He kept saying, ‘Give it a go to find out if you are good enough or not’.
“And so that was a big part of it.”
And she’s hoping her I’m A Celebrity experience provides inspirational for Albert.
“For me it is about stepping out of my comfort zone and challenging myself,” she said.
“I am always telling Albert to give things a go even at his little age and so now I can say to everyone, ‘They asked me to do I’m A Celebrity and I did it’.”
While Jennie’s in the jungle, her husband Chris will be running her Twitter account.
The other celebrities taking part in this year’s series are boxer Amir Khan, ex Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas, The Saturdays singer Vanessa White and former footballer Dennis Wise.
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Completing the line-up is Boris Johnson’s dad Stanley, YouTuber Jack Maynard, comedian Shappi Khorsandi, Made In Chelsea’s Georgia Toffolo and WAG Rebekah Vardy.
I’m A Celebrity starts Sunday at 9pm on ITV.