Name: Carly Zucker

Age: 24

Occupation: Model and personal trainer

Celebrity supporters: Joe Cole

Phobias: Creepy crawlies

Special skills: Being a good talker and listener

“I’m not your typical girlie girl… I’m a dare devil.”

Personal trainer Carly Zucker says she is heading to the jungle to fulfil some of her own dreams and those of her England footballer fiancé, Joe Cole.

Carly says she and Joe have always wanted to go on an adventure, but Joe is not allowed to risk injury because of his career – so Carly hopes to try out some of the things they’ve always imagined, for both of them.

Carly says: “Joe was keen for me to do the show. He’s quite excited about everything. We’ve always said that as soon as he retires one of the things we’d like to do is go on safari and go and do bungee jumps and all crazy things that he can’t do while he’s a professional athlete.

“So I think by me doing this he’s sort of living his part of his dream early by me doing it.

“I’ve got a friend and we have the same interests. We both can be very girlie but very sporty at the same time. So we like to go and do different challenges. And she was gorilla trekking and climbing mountains and I always go, ‘Oh Joe, can I go?’

“And he’s always worried because generally it’s not controlled. Being in the jungle, of course there’re risks and you’re in the open jungle, but going on a small trip like with a friend or something he’ll generally worry more because he can’t see what I’m actually doing. And there’s no control going with one of these small package adventure holidays.

“Joe would definitely worry about me as well. But I think because he can see me on screen and he knows that I’ve got to be in a relatively safe environment he won’t worry too much because he can see me any time of the day.

“When we have watched the previous series on television he’s always said that it’s something he’d like to do as well as having a boxing match when he retires.

“It’s also a challenge for myself and it’ll be an experience. I’m getting married next year and I just think that it is the right time to do something like this.

“What’s going to motivate me to do these trials if I’m nervous of everything is that I like the feeling of achievement I get afterwards. I like being scared. And I like the adrenaline rush that you get, the adrenaline rush and butterflies in the tummy. And I just love live, I don’t live life on the edge but for these few weeks I’m sure I will be living life on the edge, so I just love the thought of that.”

Carly also hopes to change the public perception of her, as she thinks images of her in the paper have led people to believe she is moody.

She says: “I’d say I’m fun and caring. I make fun out of myself and I’m a good listener. I’m a dare devil and I’m very sociable and very social. I think at the moment the public’s perception of me is quite moody and quite sporty as well.

“But I would say generally they get that idea because I’ve been pictured walking the dogs or just getting on with my everyday business walking down the street. And if there’s paparazzi there I’m not just going to smile. So that’s basically where people get that idea, if I’m just walking down the street.

“But I think going on the show they’re going to realise that I’m happy go lucky, relaxed, kind hearted and a people person really. I think people’s perception of me may be I’m a girlie girl because I’m a footballer’s fiancée and because I’ve been pictured with shopping bags etc.

“But I sort of live two lives. I do love getting dressed up and having nice things, but I also do like to leave that behind now and again and just live life really basically. Like when I go on holiday I love as soon as you get a tan not having to wear makeup and not having to faff and dry your hair and do all these things. I’m not your typical girlie girl.”

She says she wants to take part in the series to challenge herself and has been hanging upside down in preparation.

She says: “I’ve been hanging upside down. I do yoga and my yoga teacher said to practice hanging upside down in case I have to bungee jump or jump out of a plane or something. I’ve been practicing because all the blood rushes to your head so I’ve got a machine at home so I can practice being upside down.

“It’s just like doing a headstand but you’re strapped into this thing. It’s really good for circulation as well. You don’t have to do anything, you strap yourself in and lie there and when you want to finish just pull yourself up.”

She says the type of people who annoy her the most are drama queens and the things she will miss the most are sleep and her family.

She says: “I think I’m quite easy going so I don’t think I’ll be too much of a headache or anything. I’m quite laid-back so I could be a bit of a peacemaker, I’m quite good at talking things through.

“Other people irritate me if they are too much of a drama queen and moan too much, and my annoying habit is that actually I’m a bit prone to moaning or maybe talking too much.

“I’ll miss sleeping peacefully and not being able to control the temperature. Everything really, not being able to have easy access to food and drink. And obviously not being with your loved ones, your friends and family.”