The X Factor's Mary Byrne eyes I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
The X Factor star Mary Byrne would do I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in a "heartbeat".
The X Factor 2010 semi-finalist Mary Byrne wants to do I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
The 66-year-old star is up for getting stuck into gruesome Bushtucker Trials and living in a critter-filled jungle for three weeks on the ITV reality show.
Mary told the new issue of RSVP magazine: "If I'm A Celebrity came to me, I would go on it in a heartbeat, I love the programme.
"That is a programme I'd love to do to let them see how strong I am in my mental health."
Ageing has brought confidence to Mary - who is also up for doing either the UK or Irish version of The Traitors, the ultimate game of backstabbing, deceit and betrayal.
She said: "I'm 66, not dead, and I'll try anything.
"When you get to a certain stage in life, you need to keep ticking that bucket list off. You need to keep challenging yourself and keep your mind strong."
Mary has previously opened up about how her mental health was challenged after she spiralled into depression and turned to drink - whilst on medication - following a loss of income and savings due to her shows being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The entertainer has cut out booze and focuses on her achievements to tackle her struggle with self-confidence and self-worth.
And although Mary's mental health is still "up and down", she is in a better state than she was a few years ago.
Mary admitted: "The health is always an issue, there's no quick fix for how you feel about the world and that your head tells you lies all the time, it's horrible.
"But I'm getting tools to deal with it, and I'm learning myself to deal with it. The mental health is up and down, but it's doing a lot better than it ever was.
"I'm a much stronger person than I actually realised."
Mary worked on a Tesco checkout in Ballyfermot, Dublin, before she shot to fame in 2010 aged 50 on The X Factor - in which she finished fifth.
And she is making her big TV comeback on First Dates Ireland because her job makes striking up romances difficult.
Mary explained: "I don't get chances to go out and meet people because I'm working. I meet them at work, at jobs, and that's when you don't know what the person's agenda is because you're out working.
"I don't go to my local pubs as much as I used to, so I don't get to meet the ordinary guys that are there. So when this opportunity came up, I jumped on it.
"I can do this; maybe he'll be the one, maybe he won't. But if I don't take this opportunity, I won't have ever stepped back into the dating scene, and now, if I had to go on another date, I wouldn't have a problem with it."
The experience gave Mary confidence.
She added: "And [it] made me realise that it's actually not that terrible to go out and meet somebody because I used to be terrified at it."
