Esther Rantzen is despairing at the lack of possible romantic opportunities in the jungle.

The oldest female 'I'm A Celebrity. Get Me Out Of Here!' contestant - whose husband Desmond Wilcox died in 2000 - is upset that the older men taking part are unavailable, because George Takei, 71, and 50-year-old Brian Paddick are both in gay relationships while Robert Kilroy-Silk, 66, is married.

The 68-year-old presenter said: "I haven't found anybody of the opposite sex who is heterosexual and in my age range, and unmarried. There isn't anybody."

However, Esther has managed to bond with younger camp mate Joe Swash, 26, after he loaned her his pants.

She confessed: "I'm wearing Joe's underpants as I speak so it can't be all bad. Mine were ridiculous. For some reason I invested in thongs. Why did I do that? It's because my children are always worried about my VPL [Visible Panty Line].

"If any of our viewers are thinking of travelling to the jungle, thongs are not warm and cosy. Thank heavens for Joe's underpants."

Lovelorn Esther may still have some romantic hopes - Dollar frontman David Van Day, who is currently held captive with Timmy Mallett away from the rest of the camp, has admitted he is looking for love on the show.

The 51-year-old singer said: "If you go out looking for it, you never find it. And then before you know it, you're talking to someone and you think, 'Hello, she's quite nice.' So who knows."