Jungle queen has time to limber up for nation's favourite walking festival
[6 December 2004]
She may not have been crowned queen of the jungle but Janet
Street-Porter - snake-charmer, camp cook and Ramblers’
Association vice-president - can celebrate freedom by taking
part in her charity’s annual walking event. The Cotswold
Outdoor Festival of Winter Walks, organised by the Ramblers,
starts on Boxing Day and runs
until January 3.
The journalist and TV personality surprised many by getting to the
penultimate round of ITV’s celebrity endurance test.
Her honesty, intelligence and humour and what she called her
“ageing with attitude” approach to life clearly kept the viewers
enthralled, as well as her constant ribbing of the former royal
butler Paul Burrell.
Exit from the jungle means that she can return to what she
loves best - walking, although she will have to swap her vest
and shorts for warm woolly attire which is de rigueur for the
free annual event that has become as much a part of Christmas as
mulled wine, mince pies and doomed turkeys.
Winter is a favourite time for the British to don walking boots
judging by the vast numbers who take part in the annual festival. The appeal of
clear, crisp winter air; energy boosting walks and the chance to
socialise with friends and family over the festive period has
tempted thousands away from the TV schedules into the
outdoors since it began 16 years ago.
Nick Milton, Director of Marketing and Communications at the
Ramblers,
said: "Janet really found her niche in the jungle and I know
that many viewers will miss her famously acidic cockney tongue
and her big personality. But whatever people think of Janet no
one can doubt she was physically well suited to the
challenge: she is our vice-president, is a regular hill walker
and she has trekked across the Australian desert. And
what better place to wind down after two weeks in the Ozzie
outback jungle with a group of 'deadbeats' than on a
Ramblers winter
walk? Of course she'd be very welcome to bring along all her
celebrity friends!"
All who take part in a festival walk and want to join the
Ramblers will receive a 20% discount off membership.
Full walks details.