Lisa Riley has revealed the incredible toll I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! took on her body, with the actress shedding a staggering 20 pounds during her time in the jungle. The 49-year-old Emmerdale star became the eighth celebrity to be voted out of the competition, following a dramatic double elimination alongside Jack Osbourne. But it was Lisa’s post-jungle transformation — and her candid reflection on the intense experience — that left fans speechless.
In an emotional post-exit interview, Lisa spoke to The Daily Mail about how the constant movement and limited diet of rice and beans led to her weight loss. But, as she explained, it wasn’t just the food — it was the grueling nature of jungle life.
“It’s not just rice and beans,” she said with a smile. “It’s portion control. When you’re in there, it’s the lifestyle, the geography of the camp… it’s non-stop action. You never stop moving.”
From daily challenges to the relentless energy required for the show, Lisa emphasized how the active pace of the jungle left her burning off the calories she did consume. “By the time you’ve eaten your beans for the night, you’ve probably already burned it all off,” she laughed, acknowledging the tough physical demands.
While Lisa admitted she was often hungry, she made it clear she was never truly starving. “I’ve never been in Ethiopia, I wasn’t starving,” she clarified, quickly adding, “Yes, there were times when I was really hungry, but the food basket always came down at the end of the day, and then it’s all about the rice.”
As a vegetarian, Lisa’s meals were slightly altered from the other contestants. “I got things like Quorn chicken strips and tofu, and while I was so lucky to have them, do I want to see rice again? No thanks. Rice and me are done,” she joked.
But despite the tough diet and demanding physical schedule, Lisa embraced her time in the jungle wholeheartedly. “It’s everything I wanted it to be and so much more,” she said, reflecting on her journey. “I’ve created fun, laughter, and I’ve just been me from start to finish.”
Throughout her time on the show, Lisa became the camp’s “mother figure,” playing the nurturing role for the other contestants. She revealed that although she’s not a mother in real life, the role of “Mumma Bear” in the jungle felt like a natural fit. “If I can be Mumma Bear in the jungle, then I’m more than happy with that role,” she said, clearly proud of her time as a supportive figure.
“I’m a Flirt, I Can’t Help It”
One of the highlights of Lisa’s time in the jungle was her playful flirtation with I’m A Celebrity host Ant McPartlin. “I’m a flirt. I flirt with everyone. That’s who I am, and I’m not going to stop,” she laughed. “But I’m secure in my relationship. I know who I’m going home to every night.”
Lisa assured fans that her long-term partner, Al, had nothing to worry about, adding with a cheeky grin, “I’m in a very, very happy relationship, but as I always say — you can go to Waitrose, you don’t have to buy anything!”
A Journey Filled with Laughter, Love, and Strength
Lisa’s exit from the jungle came after an emotional farewell, where she reflected on the friendships she built during the competition. “Aitch and Ginge were my naughty little brothers,” she said fondly. “They let me be the real me.”
In her heartfelt goodbye, Lisa admitted how much she’d grown throughout the experience. “We all have been through something in our lives,” she shared. “If I can be a mumma bear in the jungle, then I’m more than happy with that role.”
As the world watched Lisa’s transformation — both physical and emotional — her story remains a testament to the strength of perseverance, the power of vulnerability, and the importance of finding joy and connection, no matter the circumstances.
