The 20th series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! kicked off last night (15 November) as the latest line-up of celebrity contestants, including AJ Pritchard, Giovanna Fletcher and Mo Farah, entered camp for the first time.
Also among this year’s campmates is EastEnders actress Jessica Plummer, who is best known for playing Chantelle Atkins on the BBC soap. But some viewers were shocked to discover that the 28-year-old actually first rose to fame in 2013 as part of (criminally underrated) girl band Neon Jungle.
The four-piece group, which was completed by Shereen Cutkelvin, Asami Zdrenka and Amira McCarthy, had top ten hits with Braveheart and Welcome to the Jungle before splitting in 2015.
Introducing herself to viewers before meeting up with her campmates for the very time, Jessica said, “My name is Jessica Plummer and you might know me from being part of the girl band Neon Jungle or, more recently, playing Chantelle Atkins in EastEnders.”
Neon Jungle soon began trending on Twitter as fans took to social media to share their shock at Jess’ popstar revelation.
CHECK OUT the I'm A Celeb 2020 line-up in full
I'm A Celeb 2020 official line-up - slider
1 of 12Vernon Kay
TV presenter Vernon Kay has finally agreed to take part in I'm A Celeb after being approached by producers multiple times. He says his daughters Phoebe and Amber are the reason he's doing the show, although we're sure his reported £250k fee has something to do with it too...
2 of 12Victoria Derbyshire
BBC news presenter Victoria Derbyshire has signed up for I'm A Celeb as beating breast cancer has made her determined to take on new challenges. She says, "I am now saying 'yes' to stuff I wouldn't have done previously. And, if I don't do my boys proud, I will never live it down!"
3 of 12Shane Richie
EastEnders legend Shane Richie, who played Alfie Moon on the BBC One soap, has been keeping his involvement in I'm A Celeb secret since January, when he first agreed to take part. He says his biggest phobia is human faeces - guess he won't be signing up to empty the dunny then.
4 of 12Hollie Arnold
Although Paralympian Hollie Arnold is used to racking up the medals on the athletics track, she's admitted she's not even thought about the possibility of winning I'm A Celeb. She explains, "I haven't thought about it as you get lost in thought. But if I could get that far, it would be incredible and change my life!"
5 of 12Jordan North
Radio 1 DJ Jordan North says he has "so many phobias" but is looking forward to heading into camp as he gets to meet his childhood heroes Ant and Dec.
6 of 12Beverley Callard
Beverley Callard has played Coronation Street icon Liz McDonald on and off for more than 30 years but she says the biggest misconception about her is that she's as glamorous as her on-screen character. "I hate being dressed up and I don't care if my nails break either! I am quite at home in comfy baggy clothes," she says.
7 of 12AJ Pritchard
Professional dancer AJ Pritchard says, "Doing I'm A Celebrity is a childhood dream come true," and couldn't help but throw a little shade at Strictly Come Dancing after quitting the show, adding, "I was so excited to watch the return of Strictly this Autumn but now I am going to be on an even better show! I can't wait!"
8 of 12Giovanna Fletcher
Although author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher will miss the three children she shares her husband Tom, of McFly fame, she says, "I know it is something we can talk about for years to come and say 'remember when mum did that thing!'"
9 of 12Mo Farah
Although he's known for his massive success on the running track, Olympic hero Mo Farah says, "It will be nice for people to see me doing something other than running." He reckons his role in camp will be the cook.
10 of 12Jessica Plummer
Former EastEnders actress Jessica Plummer admits it will be hard to give up her luxuries and live in the camp's basic conditions but she's hoping taking part in I'm A Celeb will help her cure her phobias. She says, "I have got all the phobias. When my friends see me too, they are going to say 'what the hell? This doesn't make sense!"
11 of 12Ruthie Henshall
West End and Broadway actress Ruthie Henshall is the first of two late entrants heading into camp.
12 of 12Russell Watson
Opera singer Russell Watson will be joining Ruthie as the second late entrant.
“I had no idea Jess was in Neon Jungle omg,” wrote one.
Another added, “Even watching Jess in EastEnders I did not realise till this day she was part of Neon Jungle.”
“Wait, Jessica was in Neon Jungle?!? She gets my vote just for giving us the massive BOP Braveheart,” commented a third.
Some viewers even called for the band to get back together, with one tweeting, “If this season of #ImACeleb leads to a Neon Jungle reunion I promise I’ll watch every episode for the rest of time.”
BRB, we’re off to start a petition to get Braveheart to number one.
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Later in the show, Jessica became the first (but definitely not the last) of this year’s contestants to cry as she tearfully opened up about missing her four-year-old daughter Noa.
Before entering the show, the popstar turned soap star revealed that her stint on I’m A Celeb will be the longest time they’ve ever spent apart and its clearly already taking its toll.
Jess was exploring the new camp in Gwrych Castle with Victoria Derbyshire, Holllie Arnold and Giovanna Fletcher when she began crying and told her campmates, “I said to my daughter before we left each other that if she misses me when she's at home, she looks for the moon, I can look at the moon and we can both see it.”
Aww.