Helen Lederer snubs Celebrity Big Brother to sign big money deal to star in I’m A Celeb

AB Fab actress Helen Lederer has snubbed an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother to sign a big money deal with I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

The 61-year-old is best known for playing Catriona in the classic BBC comedy, which recently returned to the big screen in a movie adaptation.

But unlike her character, Helen has seemingly decided to rough it in the Australian jungle, rather than live in relative comfort in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

A source confirmed to The Sun Online that Helen has signed a deal to appear on I'm a Celebrity in a bid to become the next Queen of the Jungle.

However the news will surely annoy Celebrity Big Brother bosses, who had been close to signing the actress for the series currently playing out on our screens after engaging in weeks of negotiations.

But it seems Helen decided to pull the plug on the plans at the last minute, and hold out for more money from its ITV rivals.

Helen, a regular on post-eviction show Bit On The Side, had been targeted again after a 2009 near-miss.

She exclusively revealed: “They did ask me once before but I was doing Calendar Girls and I was quite pleased they wouldn’t let me out.

"How do people wash with their swimming costumes on?

“It’s disgusting.

“But I think in the Celebrity version at least you can close the door when you need a private moment.”

The jungle won't be Helen's first foray into reality TV though, as the actress featured on ITV's celebrity diving competition, Splash! in 2013.

However the star was eliminated from the competition in the first round after failing to impress the judges with her performance.

Helen also appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2006, with the series eventually being won by former Rugby star Matt Dawson.