The jockey, 52, had a miraculous escape after a horror plane crash at Newmarket racecourse in 2000.
And the claustrophobia he has suffered from since may provide a stern test as he tackles some of the ITV show’s wacky challenges.
Frankie is expected to be joined in the jungle camp by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, food critic Grace Dent, ex-boxer Tony Bellew, Hollyoaks star Nick Pickard and ex-EastEnders actress Danielle Harold.
This Morning presenter Josie Gibson and First Dates star Fred Sirieix are expected to be among those in the jungle, while Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson and social media influencer Nella Rose are also mooted, along with JLS star Marvin Humes. Jamie Lynn Spears, the sister of Britney Spears, is also rumoured to be involved.
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According to sources, Farage has been at the top of their “wish list” for years. But some fans are planning to boycott the show if he does appear. One wrote online: “This is the lowest the show can go.”
Frankie has been in Australia for the Melbourne Cup racing event this week, and is expected to head to Brisbane shortly to meet up with ITV executives.
Of his claustrophobia, he once said: “I’ll fly in jumbo jets and I’ll fly in helicopters, but light aircraft? Not a chance. I developed claustrophobia too. I used to laugh at my mum when I was a kid and she’d have to have the window open, or when she wouldn’t go in a lift. But now it’s happening to me.”
Recalling the air disaster in 2000 in which pilot Patrick Mackey died, Frankie had said: “We’re being pulled down to the ground. We’re going to die. We’re going to die. ”
The race ace suffered a broken ankle and facial cuts after the crash.
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