RUTHIE Henshall is one of two late arrivals set to join the 10 other I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! contestants at Gwrych Castle.

The Rhyl Journal can now reveal that the actress, singer and dancer, along with classical singer Russell Watson, will complete the line-up for the 20th series of I'm A Celeb set at the Abergele castle.

53-year-old Henshall's multi-award winning career has seen her star in some of the most popular musicals of the past thirty years including Cats, Miss Saigon, Crazy For You, Les Misérables, Billy Elliot and Chicago.

She has also enjoyed tremendous success in plays, in concert and on television. Most recently, Ruthie played Mama Morton in Chicago in the West End, making her the only British actress to have played all three leading female roles in the show.

Speaking ahead of entering the castle, where she will join the likes of TV presenter Vernon Kay and Olympic Gold medallist Sir Mo Farah, Ruthie told the Rhyl Journal that Wales 'has a special place in her heart'.

Having previously appeared at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, the Journal asked whether or not North Wales is a place that is already familiar to Ruthie, to which she replied: "'It is, not overly familiar, but I've been to Wales a few times as it is the home of singing, the home of the good voice. Wales has a really special place in my heart.

"At the time, I had no idea when I said yes (to the show) that it would be in Wales. As far as we were concerned when I signed up, I thought I was going to a nice hot jungle!

"But, in actual fact, I think it's brilliant that it's in Wales, I think it's brilliant that this British show that is so loved by the audiences has come home, be it for how long we don't know, it might only be for one year, but how lovely that a bunch of people in the UK are getting paid, not the cast but all the people that it takes to put on this show.

"I think it's just fantastic that we're in the beautiful Welsh countryside in a big part of history - an old castle.

"It's such a life experience, how often do you get someone coming to you and saying we're gonna put you through your paces and scare you silly that tests everything about you?. I just thought it would be a real hoot and so lovely to meet a bunch of people who aren't from my arena - which is the theatre."

Gwrych Castle is said to be home to a number of ghosts, and many of the celebs entering the Castle this year have already done their research on the venue ahead of entering it.

However, whilst admitting that she has not done that, Ruthie did say she had had a paranormal experience in the past.

She said: "When I was younger, about 17/18, I did stay in an old mill. I was on my own and kept hearing what I thought was the fridge door opening and closing downstairs and the sound of feet brushing on carpet.

"I got so frightened that I put my head under the covers and when I came out again and looked at the end of my bed, there was a little boy in a grey school uniform standing there. I honestly to this day don't know whether that was my imagination or not, but that's what I saw and never stayed there on my own again!"

Quizzed on her phobias ahead of entering Grwych Castle, Ruthie said she was scared of the dark and confined spaces.

She added: "I don't think anybody likes anything that crawls faster than a sloth. There's just something horrible about things that can move quickly and in any direction. So I think that I'm going to be a brave, tough cookie, but I'll probably be one of the first people who squeals like a baby."