By MEGAN OGLE
NOOSA’S Jo Beth Taylor is one of 12 celebrities who have volunteered to rough it in the African jungle for charity.
Jo Beth made her debut on the second season of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! on Sunday night, forgoing creature comforts to live in a camp with other notable Aussies including iron woman Courtney Hancock, controversial cricketer Shane Warne and retired AFL player Brendan Fevola.
The former TV and radio personality shot to fame in the early ’90s when she was the youngest and only woman, at the age of 22, to host a prime-time show in Australia, on Nine Network’s Funniest Home Video Show.
Jo Beth, now 44, lives a low-key life in Sunrise Beach with her son Christian and has been studying to become a yoga instructor.
Jo Beth’s partner Matt Bennell said the former TV presenter was approached by producers late last year to take part in the show and, after much consideration, was on a plane to Africa by Australia Day 26 January.
“I spoke with Jo Beth when she landed and she was excited to be back in Africa, it was something that she wanted to do for 20 years so for that she was so excited,” Matt said.
“But obviously she was apprehensive not knowing what on earth she was getting in to.”
“And leaving her family behind is another thing; I know she’s really missing Christian, that’s probably the hardest part.”
The first week in the jungle was a rocky start for Jo Beth, she was examined by a medic after hitting herself in the face with her paddle and had to sit out of the first challenge, which Matt said was bad news.
“Her first experience was getting into camp by white water rafting and she hit her face so they sat her out of the first challenge and since then she hasn’t had to do any (challenges), so that’s coming for her yet,” Matt said.
“We don’t know what to expect.”
Matt said he was nervous watching Jo Beth compete on the TV show, but wasn’t worried for her.
“I’m nervous for her but not at all worried for her, I know how strong she can be, she is amazing,” Matt said.
Jo Beth is competing on the TV show to win $100,000 for her nominated charity World Vision Australia.
The celebrity contestants will live in isolation on a basic 800-calorie diet for the duration of the show and must compete in gross and confronting challenges to gain viewer votes and luxury items.
Jo Beth has already received a luxury item when a pillow with a photo collage was delivered to her.
Matt said Jo Beth was clever in that she combined two luxuries into one, “her favourite pillow and photos of her family”.
The next episode is due to air tonight and Matt said he would be watching to see if Jo Beth was picked for the next confronting challenge.
