Kezia Dugdale, ex-Scottish Labour leader, heads for the I'm a Celebrity jungle

Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is to appear on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The 36-year-old will reportedly head to Australia to take part in the reality TV series, which begins on Sunday, joining others including boxer Amir Khan, Boris Johnson's father Stanley and Saturdays singer Vanessa White.

Dugdale resigned as leader in August after taking on the role in the wake of the 2015 general election. On Saturday, Richard Leonard was announced as the new leader of Scottish Labour and said that his election sends a "message of real change".

Dugdale’s late addition to the ITV show has caused a furore on social media – five years after MP Nadine Dorries was criticised for "abandoning" voters when she also appeared on the show.

Media reports of her participation in the show have drawn criticism and surprised reactions from other politicians, including Labour MSP Jenny Marra and SNP MSP James Dornan.

The Lothian MSP will leave her constituents without a representative, but it is understood that Dugdale will donate her MSP salary to charity while she is in Australia. Scottish Labour are yet to formally comment.

Coronation Street actress Jennie McAlpine is currently the 3-1 favourite to win the ITV show.

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! begins on Sunday 18th November at 9pm on ITV

I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here: 2017 contestants line-up