A group of charitable Jewish princesses renounced creature comforts to take on the terrors of the Yorkshire jungle.
Leeds Jewish Welfare Board staged “I’m A Princess Get Me Out Of Here”, based on the I’m A Celebrity TV show. The challenge was for 16 women to survive a day and night in dank and muddy conditions at Bramhope Scout Camp.
Stripped of their Jimmy Choos and attired in combat clothing and camouflage make-up, the women were split into two competing groups.
Under the supervision of a team of ex-army professionals, they undertook challenges including archery, shooting and “gladiator jousting”.
They slept under canvas and were blind-folded for a tasting of “jungle delicacies” — in reality hot chilis, fish sauce and salted anchovies. A diary room was set up for the women to air their gripes about the challenges, or indeed about their fellow contestants.
As in the TV series, winners of the tasks were treated to a slap-up meal, leaving the losers to nibble on tinned fruit and noodles.
Despite aching muscles and broken nail extensions, most of the princesses said they had gained from the experience. The most senior participant, 63-year-old Marilyn White, had been motivated by the “need to give something back” to the welfare board. “They helped a member of my family and I was grateful — they’ve just been fantastic.”
Caterer Ira Silverman had reluctantly swapped her Egyptian cotton bed linen for a sleeping bag. “I desperately missed my own bed and pillow, but I suppose relinquishing our materialistic way of life for a back-to-basics existence was the name of the game.”
Shul secretary Louise Moss said that despite the bruises, she would do it all again. “It was great fun, with lots of laughs.”
Mother-of-two Lisa Brown said her biggest fear had been scary woodland creatures — “something disgusting with long hairy legs. Thankfully, all I encountered were a few harmless slugs and beetles.”
The event raised more than £4,500 and a similar challenge is planned for the men of Leeds in November.