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McFly’s Danny Jones and Corrie’s Alan Halsall are the first I’m A Celeb stars to touch down in Oz after stormy flights
Danny insisted he's in the country to make a solo record
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MCFLY star Danny Jones and Coronation Street's Alan Halsall have arrived in Australia ahead of the new series of I'm A Celebrity.
Musician Danny, 38, touched down this morning after a long-haul flight from London's Heathrow Airport.
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There was a delay before the plane could touch down due to a severe lightning storm that temporarily closed Brisbane Airport's runway.
But it eventually landed safe and sound over an hour late.
In a bid to keep his jungle stint under wraps, Danny told The Sun he was in the country to record a solo album.
He added he's now off for a steak and couldn't wait to hit the country's famous waves for some surfing.
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Wearing an Oasis T-shirt, Danny said of the trip: “A bit of a hairy flight but it was perfect.
"The McFly boys don’t know it, I’m here to do a solo album.
“They think I’m out here doing other things, but I’m here to do a solo album.”
The music star might have a slim advantage over his campmates as he admitted to being bitten by a snake before.
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He said: “I go camping every year with my mates.
“I got bit by a snake once. Not fun. Not fun at all.”
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Danny, who has brought his trusty guitar with him to Oz, was joined on his flight by jungle spin-off show hosts Sam Thompson, Joel Dommett and Kemi Rodgers.
Tyrone Dobbs actor Alan's flight landed a couple of hours later and he insisted he was in the country to play golf as he walked through arrivals.
Asked if he was excited, Alan said: “I’m just here to play golf. That’s all I’m here for.
“I don’t know what all this is. Just a bit of golf for me.”
He dodged questions about camping and when asked about the creepy crawlies awaiting him Down Under, he said: “Nah, not on the golf course obviously.
“I’m not sure what camping’s got to do with it - I’m not gonna be camping on the golf course, am I?
“It’s a long way to play golf, but I’m an avid fan of golf.”
He joked his golf clubs “have been taken straight to the hotel”.
And when asked if his fellow Corrie star and pal Andy Whyment - a former jungle contestant - had given him tips on Oz, he said: “I wouldn’t take any advice of Andy Whyment, to be honest.”
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Their arrival follows that of show hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who were spotted grabbing a bite to eat at Caba Social cafe.
They are staying at Cabarita Beach with their families during the show - a much more luxurious affair than the celebs in the jungle.
The Voice star Danny might not be so happy when he is faced with all manner of creepy crawlies.
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His past issues with anxiety may prove a stumbling block when it comes to tackling the infamous Bushtucker Trials.
Speaking previously to , the musician explained: "I experienced claustrophobia, coming out in cold sweats, feeling a band tightening around my chest and worrying I was having a heart attack.
"It’s so scary and I’ve felt like I was dying on occasions. You can’t believe your body can do that to you. I was also plagued with dark thoughts I couldn’t control."
As I'm A Celeb viewers know, feeling claustrophobic comes with the territory on many trials.
Some challenges have seen celebrities enclosed in tight spaces, usually covered in nasties, in a bid to win much-needed food for the camp.
We revealed how Danny was drafted into I'm A Celeb as a late replacement for Tommy Fury.
It means he's now following in the footsteps of bandmate Dougie Poynter and his other bandmate Tom Fletcher's wife Giovanna - who have both previously won the show.
A jungle insider said: "As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he'll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home.
"All the McFly guys are gym fanatics and Danny in particular has a great physique - which he's bound to show off in the jungle.
"He'll be keeping up with the proud tradition of I'm A Celebrity hunks who've been on the show over the years including Owen Warner and Joel Dommett.
"And he'll fill the jungle hunk gap left by Tommy Fury after he declined the opportunity earlier this month."
No stranger to ITV reality shows, Danny also won series five of The Masked Singer, disguised as "Piranha".
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Other names taking part in this year's I'm A Celeb include Coleen Rooney, GK Barry and Coronation Street star Alan Halsall.
Wag Coleen is said to be earning £1.5m for her time in the jungle and is also getting a pass when it comes to certain trials.
The 38-year-old wife of former England striker Wayne has painful reactive arthritis, which affects the joints and is set off by stress.
It means she may be exempt from some challenges in the upcoming series.
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A source said: “Execs want to keep her happy and healthy.”
I'm A Celebrity returns to ITV and ITVX on November 17.
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As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year...
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