Arlene Phillips’ daughter has dubbed her “the best mummy ever”, praising both her parenting skills and performance in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! camp.
Abi Phillips Ion wasn’t surprised by her mum’s admissions on Wednesday night’s show, when she discussed her struggles as an older parent.
Arlene told the other celebs how she became pregnant with Abi aged 47 and initially thought the pregnancy sickness was actually menopause.
She also said she had been mistaken for Abi’s grandmother at her school gates, reports The Mirror.
Abi, 31, said that it wasn’t a hard watch as she knew how Arlene used to feel, adding that the pair have a very close relationship.
“I was never aware of any difference between her and the other mothers [at school],” she told The Mirror.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
“She absolutely was hands on and supportive in every way. From bath time entertainment to bedtime stories, poems and impressions, which we still do together today and burst into laughter.”
Abi admitted she was concerned when 78-year-old Arlene signed up for the ITV show.
To make matters worse her mum found herself in the show’s prison called The Clink to begin with, meaning she slept on the floor with only a thin mattress.
(Image: Family Collect)
Abi said: “Initially I was worried. I am very protective of her but as the weeks went by and I saw how she began to prep herself, exercising, eating smaller portions.
“She’s been brilliant. Even in The Clink I thought the way she handled it was amazing.
“I know she had a little stumble when wanting to leave but I was happy she worked through it and now she’s in the main camp she is absolutely shining.”
(Image: ITV)
Abi also said she would cry when she was reunited with her mother, before telling her how immensely proud she has made her.
She explained how Arlene was concerned about embarrassing her daughter, but that has absolutely not been the case.
Asked how she would feel if her mum was queen of the jungle, she said: “I think she would surprise herself if she were to win and that would be a huge boost for her but that isn’t the reason she went in.
“She saw this as a challenge being taken out of her comfort zone.
“She was more intrigued to see how she would cope with this new experience and she’s already a winner in my eyes so I’ll be greeting my champion either way.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Mother-of-two Arlene, the oldest ever contestant on I’m A Celebrity, said before entering the castle: “Everything I do, I’m always the oldest. So I’m used to that.
“Like when I had my daughter ‘oh, you’re a geriatric mother, what are we going to do?’.
“Are there things that I can’t do? I am definitely weaker than I was. But whatever I can do, I will try to do.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
