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Jordan North on I’m a Celebrity: Who is BBC Radio 1 DJ and where is he from?

Here’s everything you need to know about one of the favourites to win this year’s contest

Isobel Lewis
Friday 04 December 2020 22:03 GMT
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I'm a Celebrity contestants hug during show launch

Radio presenter Jordan North has rapidly become a fan favourite on the new series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

He already appears to have struck up a comic friendship with fellow camper Shane Richie, with the EastEnders star jokingly pelting North with rocks as he urinated during Wednesday night’s episode (18 November), and he’s become a regular in the daily Bushtucker trials.

In Thursday’s episode, North faced his fourth trial. The Trapped Door challenge saw him go through an underground tunnel where he had to lie flat on a trolley and use a rope to move along as maggots, mealworms, crickets and cockroaches rained down on him. 

Read more: How much are the I’m a Celebrity contestants paid?

Previously, North made a dramatic entrance in the series’ launch episode. With the show taking place in Wales rather than the Australian jungle for 2020, this year’s campmates may have thought they were in for an easier ride than previous series.

However, the cast were instead told that they would have to abseil off a cliff to reach camp, with North, who suffers from vertigo, vomiting in response.

North made quite the, erm, splash on the first episode (Rex Features)

“I’ve only been here five minutes and I’m puking up already,” he later said.

While North may not be the most familiar face to viewers, you may well recognise North’s voice due to his successful career in radio.

The 30-year-old was born in York but spent much of his childhood in Burnley.  After moving to Preston with his family, he began presenting on community radio station Preston FM as a teenager, while also working part-time at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach station. 

While at university in 2011, his student radio show won him a national talent competition and a weekly spot on The Hits Radio.

He then went to work as a researcher and producer at BBC Radio 5 Live while presenting for Capital and later Rock FM.

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In 2014, North first appeared on Radio 1 and has served as the station’s “supply teacher” since, covering for Scott Mills and Nick Grimshaw as well as regularly presenting during the weekend.

Read more: Inside the ‘haunted’ castle where I’m A Celebrity is filmed

Alongside this, North co-presents award-nominated podcast Help I Sexted My Boss with etiquette expert William Hanson.

North recently confirmed to Radio Times that he is currently single, although quickly clarified: “But that is not the reason why I am going [on I’m a Celeb]!”

Speaking about starring on I’m a Celebrity, the presenter admitted that he had “so many phobias and fears”, saying: “I am worried I will let people down but I also want to give the trials my best go.”

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! airs nightly at 9pm on ITV.

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