The TV presenter also shared who she thinks will win this season…
Nicky Buckley sure accomplished a lot during her time on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here (I’m A Celeb).
She completed several hard challenges — like when she ate pig eyeballs, a goat anus and a bull testicle during the Tucker Trial — and got vulnerable with her fellow contestants — like when she shared the incredible story of giving birth to her second child at home after unexpectedly going into labour.
It was sad to see Nicky leave the jungle but it meant that The Weekly could sit down with the TV presenter and talk about her experience…
The Weekly: What was the best thing you experienced in the jungle?
The friendships, the camaraderie, and the bonding, for sure. That’s the top.
What was the hardest challenge to get through?
Well, in general, for me, the sleep was hard; not getting great sleep is very challenging.
The hunger part is real, you know, you’re getting a minuscule amount of food.
You get two tablespoons of oats for breakfast, and then there’s nothing. There’s not a cup of tea or a snack, or a biccy, or a handful of nuts, or anything! And then at lunch, you’re getting half a cup of beans and rice. And then you’ve got to get through until dinner comes at seven or eight and see what you managed to get.
So the hunger part is really hard; that and the lack of sleep was the hardest challenge.
Actually, I could keep going [laughs].
Sleeping on a camp bed, very uncomfortable in the open; you know, I got wet one night.
There’s no privacy. There’s nowhere to change, so you’re changing in public. You’re having showers [in public].
Oh, and the toilets are revolting! A stinky, hot mess [laughs].
During your Tucker Trial, what was the grossest to eat: the pig eyeballs, the goat anus, or the bull testicles?
The grossest was the bit I couldn’t cope with, which was the drink.
But honestly, they’re all gross.
And so to even think about doing it, I did some special thing in my head where I just, I heard what they were calling it, but I kind of was not letting it filter into me… I disassociated.
I can talk about it now, but at the time I wasn’t thinking of an actual, you know, goat anus. I was just thinking, ‘I’m just going to beat this boy. I’m going for the gold here.’
And so, I was more focused on when they said, ‘Go,’ [as] I wanted to be the quickest one getting it off the fork or the toothpick or whatever it was, and I just wanted to win.
But then I came unstuck with the drink, which was tough because my game plan was to start on the testicle and then swish it down with the fermented fish concoction. But I just couldn’t. It was the foulest thing.
I dropped the compartmentalisation at that point, with the others, somehow I could [eat them], but with this drink, my mind and body was like, ‘No, that is not going inside.’
Who do you hope will win I’m A Celeb this year?
I probably should have put more thought into who I’m hoping to win; I don’t know about that. But I know who I think will win… They’re probably in the same realm.
Anyway, the top three in my head are Max, Reggie, and Hughesy. Could be totally wrong!
But you know, Max was probably my bestie from day one and I just love and respect him.
And admire him for all of whatever he does on TikTok, which I don’t know yet, because I don’t have a TikTok account, so I’ll have to work that one out [laughs].
No, he was a wise old soul, and we had some lovely talks. And you just fall in love with Reggie. You know, I could go on about everyone.
Who knows [who will win]? I can’t wait to watch the rest of it myself in real-time.
What’s the first thing you’ll do when you get home?
Well, my dad’s been really unwell; he’s had massive surgery, but he got through it, so I just can’t wait to go and see him. Yeah, that’s the first thing.
And then, of course, my hubby and my boys; there’ll be lots to talk about!
But yeah, Dad’s top of the list.
Watch I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here on Channel Ten and 10Play.
