American comedian and actress Ruby Wax is about to enter the I’m A Celebrity camp and could have already landed her role within the team of famous faces
Ruby Wax is about to enter the I’m A Celebrity camp – and her role may already have been confirmed. The American comedian, 72, was named as one of this year’s star-studded cast for the ITV show Down Under.
And her role could soon become clear thanks to her own work in the real world. While the veteran has an illustrious career, including TV work and stand-up routines, she has also started a charity organisation for mental health in recent years.
Her Frazzled organisation was set up in 2017 and offers a space for people who may be struggling to come together and connect with others in a safe, supportive space. And it’s that skillset that could come in very handy in such a testing environment in Australia.
READ MORE: I’m A Celebrity’s Kelly Brook reveals sad reason she split from Hollywood icon Jason StathamREAD MORE: Sharon Osbourne reveals struggles sleeping after Ozzy’s death as Jack enters I’m A Celeb
Ruby previously told the Mirror : “[At my shows] I talk about how [depression] is the most punishing disease on the face of the earth. Because, I know this isn’t very jolly, but in the audience, usually in my shows, it’s Q and A, and sometimes people will stand up.
“Sometimes they’re funny, but sometimes they say, ‘I have cancer and depression’. And I always say, ‘which one’s worse?’ And they always say the depression, because you get no sympathy.
“When you have something like that, people sometimes think you made it up…Your personality is gone. And people go, ‘Oh, yeah, sure, I know what that’s like’. Well, you don’t.”
She went on to say:” Being mentally ill is a disease. Frazzled is just kind of a cultural condition.”
Ruby revealed she is hopeful her company will help break the stigma around mental health and allow an open space to get people to talk more freely. And, with a number of this year’s campmates previously opening up on their own struggles, Ruby’s chats could be a big benefit throughout the experience.
Lisa Riley shared her own difficulties earlier this year, candidly talking about her grief after losing best friend Robin Windsor last year. She revealed how having therapy helped her through the heartache. Lisa and Robin were partnered on Strictly Come Dancing and formed a strong bond away from the dance floor.
Sadly, Robin was found dead in a London hotel on 18th February 2024. In April, she admitted: “I’d never had therapy since losing my mum in 2012.
However, with Robin, I had to start having therapy. It really does work. I lost mum, then Robin, and two and half months after Robin we lost my aunt suddenly when she was on holiday. She died having dinner. It was awful.”
Martin Kemp also talks openly about mental health topics. Earlier this year he revealed he was concerned about his son’s wellbeing. The One Show presenter Roman, 32, has discussed his own mental health issues and described feeling felt “trapped” by depression.
In his documentary titled Our Silent Emergency, Roman revealed he once came close to attempting suicide. Speaking on a podcast with his son, Martin voiced his concerns on his son campaigning. “I worry about you doing this, I worry about it,” he said.
“Because I know that, from being an actor, that when you convince yourself and talk about things so much that it would come down heavily on you, on your psychological health, that’s what I worry about from you doing this.
*If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk
