When Aussie rocker Shannon Noll was announced as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, we bet there were spontaneous bursts of “What About Me” around the country. Since coming second in the grand final of Australian Idol in 2003, he went on to sell 1.4 million albums and singles.
After some career setbacks (he appeared in the headlines last year after an alleged dispute outside an Adelaide strip club), Shannon, 42, is on a mission to “reintroduce himself” to the public.
“It’s all about the challenge – that’s the exciting part for me,” Shannon tells TV WEEK of signing up for six weeks in the jungle with few creature comforts.
“I don’t know how I’ll go with it, to be honest,” he confesses. “I think just being away from home and missing the family will be a tough part. And being locked away in the compound will be difficult.”
Not to mention having to compete for food and necessities through terrifying trials and stomach-turning tastings of “local delicacies”.
“I’m not too good with heights these days,” Shannon laughs, adding that despite his fear, he’s willing to give everything a go.
“It’s all in the spirit of the show, and it’s all about not letting these fears stop you.”
And as it turns out, this isn’t the first time Shannon has been asked to go into the jungle.
“I’ve been approached a couple of years in a row,” he reveals. “I just thought now would be a good time to do it.”
So what does Shannon’s wife Rochelle and children Cody, 16, Blake, 15, and Sienna, 11, think about his adventure?
“My wife is a bit apprehensive,” he says. “Being away for so long and not having any contact will be a struggle. But they’ll definitely be watching from home and cheering me on. They’re my biggest fans.”
For the full story, pick up this week’s issue of TV WEEK.
