100-1 shot Dame Arlene no stranger to battling the odds

I’m A Celebrity’s rank outsider, and William Hill’s red hot favourite for the first elimination, Arlene Phillips, last night revealed she is no stranger to battling public opinion.

The showbiz legend, who at 78 became the oldest contestant to take part in the hit reality show, opened up to campmates about the comments she received after becoming a mother for the first time at 36, and then again at 47.

The unfancied 100-1 shot led a candid discussion on motherhood and revealed that she was often confused with being her child’s grandmother, and subsequently came to dread the school run. 

Dame Arlene, an internationally renowned choreographer, told campmates: “My daughter Abi, I remember dreading, absolutely dreading taking her to school, age 4, and having to explain, ‘No, I’m her mother not her grandmother. I was 47 when I had her.”

Despite throwing herself headlong into the I’m A Celebrity experience, Dame Arlene has gone from a pre-show 40-1 to 100-1 long shot with William Hill, all the while being 6-4 favourite to be the first eliminated from the show.

Meanwhile, French former football ace David Ginola was trimmed from 2-1 to 7-4 firm favourite, with King of the cobbles Simon Gregson, aka Coronation Street’s Steve McDonald, at 3-1, and singer turned Loose Women panelist Frankie Bridge 7-2 third favourite.

Ex-Emmerdale man Danny Miller was 9-2 on entering the castle and remains so, perhaps the last of those capable of mounting a serious challenge for a North Wales Coronation this Autumn. 

Eltham-born Radio 1Xtra DJ Snoochie dropped from 16-1 to 6-1 at one stage, having now settled on 10-1, while EastEnders’ Ian Beale icon Adam Woodyatt, who hasn’t managed to engineer much air time since his arrival, sits at 16-1.

A viewer vote saw soap royalty Simon Gregson and Adam Woodyatt dethroned as Lords of the castle, with ex-Newcastle and Tottenham legend Ginola, and new Dad, Miller, beginning their reign. 

Miller quipped: “This for me is the best thing that could have happened in camp and I’m really trying to play it down out there because I want to be a man of the people.”

As to the rest of the camp, London-born music producer Naughty Boy is 18-1, former breakfast TV host Lousie Minchin is 20-1, Olympians Matty Lee and Kadeena Cox are 25-1 and 50-1 respectively, before Dame Arlene completes the set.

Joining Dame Arlene amongst the likeliest to be eliminated first are Kadeena on 9-4, and Matty Lee on 6-1, while Naughty and Louise are both priced at 8-1.

To Win Outright

David Ginola – 7-4

Simon Gregson – 3-1

Frankie Bridge – 7-2

Danny Miller – 5-1

Snoochie Shy – 10-1

Adam Woodyatt – 16-1

Louise Minchin – 20-1

Naughty Boy – 18-1

Matty Lee – 25-1

Kadeena Cox – 50-1

Arlene Phillips – 100-1

**odds correct at time of publishing**

To view the full I’m A Celebrity market, please visit: https://sports.williamhill.com/betting/en-gb/tv-specials/competitions/Im-A-CelebrityGet-Me-Out-Of-Here/outrights