WATCH: Emma, Oti and Rylan’s Red Nose Day Cairngorm challenge heads off from Braemar
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Emma Willis, Oti Mabuse and Rylan’s Red Nose Day challenge of a lifetime is now under way as the trio set off from Braemar earlier this morning.
Together they will endure three days of battling blustery winds, ice, rain and freezing temperatures in their attempt to reach and summit the snow-capped Cairn Gorm Mountain.
Carrying everything they need to survive and wild camp for the next three days on their backs, Emma, Oti and Rylan were given a hero’s send-off by crowds of well-wishers this morning.
With the chorus of the Ballater & District Pipe Band they set off on their epic Red Nose Day adventure to raise life changing money for Comic Relief.
This first leg of their journey will see the team trek into the Scottish wilderness and tackle difficult terrain as they travel through the foothills of the Southern Cairngorms– battling wet, cold and windy weather to reach camp.
Despite facing a bracingly bitter and cold first night in their tents, temperatures will only get colder as the celebrities’ head into day two and three of the challenge.
The physical and mental enormity of the challenge they have taken on for Red Nose Day will certainly be beginning to sink in.
Emma Willis said: “I’m excited, nervous, anxious and scared, all at the same time.
"Three people, no base camp, completely self-sufficient for three days.
"There are so many parts of this that scare me.
"It’s going to be so tough.
“We are setting out to do something for a really good cause, so we need the weather Gods to smile on us and give us the best possible chance of making it to the summit.
"I've got the Sound of Music in my head already when I look at the mountain.
"I'll be euphoric if we make it to the top!”
Oti Mabuse said: “Now I’m here it has become very real.
"I’m petrified. I’m worried about the whole thing – whether it’s the camping, the cold, or carrying the packs.
"As a dancer, I have strong legs, but I'm not fit at the moment, and I have a lot of old injuries that I'm worried about. I have weak knees that were already hurting after the training.
"It'll be interesting to see how they cope with days of walking, especially carrying a heavy pack.
“I know Comic Relief challenges are meant to push you, but this will be the hardest thing I have ever taken on.
"I know I'm going to struggle but I've always believed you only grow from challenging yourself, and this is one big challenge. I'm going to have to dig deep to make it to the finish line.”
Rylan said: “With Comic Relief, they say do something funny for money – well, this is funny and dangerous.
"Probably more dangerous than funny.
"I know this might seem quite strange, I’m actually looking forward to disappearing for a bit and being cut off.
"The last time when that ever happened to me was when I was in the Big Brother house, and I really enjoyed it.
“To be taking this on with Emma and Oti is amazing. Emma is like my first ever TV wife and I’ve been close with Oti ever since Strictly.
"I’ve got two strong women around me that I know will drag me through it when it’s getting hard and hopefully, I can do the same for them.
“So this is it, we’re about to go up a mountain, if I never see you again, it was a pleasure. Wish us luck!”
Graeme Douglas, Expedition Lead said: “It is cold – there’s no doubt about it and we’ve got a lot of wind today.
"The conditions are going to be tough for them.
"We’ve got three days and two nights out planned and each night out takes us higher and higher towards the snow and the ice.
"The last day is our biggest challenge with that wind and the ice, and any exposed skin will be really affected by a high wind and wind chill. It can feel as much as -10 degrees on your cheeks – so it’s going to be cold!”
Every step of Frozen: Emma, Oti and Rylan's Red Nose Day Challenge will be captured for a special documentary, produced by Twofour, which will air on BBC One and iPlayer in the run up to Red Nose Day, which returns on Friday, March 17.
The money raised will help support people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and tackle issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, and food poverty here in the UK and around the world.
To find out more visit comicrelief.com/frozen to show your support
