I’m A Celebrity’s Scarlett Moffatt opens up about how her life was affected by facial paralysis condition Bell’s palsy
I’M A Celebrity favourite Scarlett Moffatt has been given exemption from show trials – as she is suffering with Bell’s palsy.
The Gogglebox star was given immunity from the public vote to take on the “Great Ascent” Bushtucker Trial – which saw Joel Dommett, 30, climb up tall scaffolding in a bid to scoop ten stars – due to “medical grounds”.
But Scarlett, 26, missed out on the opportunity of taking on the task as she suffers from a condition which causes temporary paralysis down one side of her face.
The telly star was diagnosed with the condition when she was 11-years-old – shortly after a nasty bike accident.
Speaking about her struggle with Bell’s palsy, she revealed: “I can’t close my left eye properly. I have to sleep with a little eye mask and my mouth still goes to the side when I talk, although people don’t really notice.
“Sometimes if I’m tired, my left eye feels a little bit twitchy, but I don’t get pain or slur my words.
“I don’t feel sorry for myself, as there are so many worse afflictions people can get.”
The former professional dancer stunned viewers earlier this week by taking part in the dreaded eating challenge alongside Carol Vorderman, 55 – as she was forced to eat an anus, nipples and other interesting delicacies.
Ant told the nervous pair: “Scarlett has chocolate nip cookies, camel udders…”
Scarlett laughed before looking horrified at the plate of udders and asking: “Why are they so hairy.”
Maths whizz Carol was then told she’d be tucking into “French knackeroons,” with Ant explaining: “These are testicles from a turkey.”
Carol joked how the dish reminded her of Christmas before turning to watch Scarlett squirm as she had to tackle the udders.
Ant quipped: “Just eat the tip of the nip,” but Scarlett was less enthusiastic – gagging as she went to put the udder in her mouth.
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Speaking about being chosen, Scarlett said: “I don’t know why but when I woke up this morning, I had like a Mystic Meg moment and I just knew that I would be doing the Bushtucker Trial. I just knew.”
She was worried about what the eating task could entail, and said: “It might be an anus muffin or something.”
But the Gogglebox star admitted that if there was a bit of garnish on the side, she’d be fine: “I love a bit of garnish.”
Before they went in Carol tried to devise a strategy, and said: “We’ve got to imagine we’ve been walking through the desert for days and we’re really starving and we’ll eat anything.”
She then added in the Bush Telegraph: “How bad can it be? Get it down you. Do you have to swallow?”
