Martina – queen of our jungle
Martina Navratilova shows her love
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Who’d have thought the qualities that helped deliver 59 grand slam titles would be such a big factor in winning Martina Navratilova the respect and friendship of a bunch of C-list ‘celebrities’ in an Aussie jungle?
Rock solid on court, Martina is fast emerging as the rock of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and is now second favourite for the title at 4-1 behind ex-EastEnder Joe Swash.
The 52-year-old was anything but warm and cuddly in the first couple of days, making sure her fellow camp-mates knew she was the greatest tennis player around.
But since those early bristly exchanges, the Czech-born superstar has become the campmate everyone knows they can rely on – whether it’s for a cuddle or another bush tucker trial.
After 14 days spent Down Under with the likes of TV irritants David Van Day and Timmy Mallett, Martina is one of seven contestants left fighting it out for the title out of the 14 that began the challenge.
As the guys and gals were released into the jungle, it was the larger-than-life, joke-cracking, showbiz-anecdote-fuelled celebs that were the most popular around the camp fire.
But as the drama has unfolded, and the back-stabbing and bitching has reached fever pitch, it’s the low-key Navratilova that has come into her own, winning some unlikely friends and admirers.
Her latest trial, in which the American had to leap across minis suspended above a swamp, won her big respect as she came home with a full complement of evening meals, while former TV chat show host and politician Robert Kilroy-Silk admitted she’d be the only person he’d miss after being booted off in the first eviction. He even gave her a kiss – on the lips!
Martina entered the jungle as the superstar of the group but, in some ways, having spent a fortnight on meagre rations and sleeping on a wonky camp bed, has come across as the most grounded and level-headed celeb in camp – emotionally sound, physically strong and with a softer side too.
Her only wobble came at the end of week two when she broke down talking about her late mother, who died nearly a year ago. Even that personal low was dealt with by herself, and in a dignified manner in what are, let’s face it, fairly undignified surroundings.
A legend on court, Martina is showing she’s a legend off court too. She gets our vote as queen of the jungle.
