Jade Goody, the reality TV woman famous for – ahm, how can we put this politely – being a few IQ points short of Mensa membership, is aiming to join the pantheon of super alpinists.

Jade, 25, who has recently lost two stones, says she is so fit, she wants to climb that big mountain that begins with an E.

The Bermondsey-born Big Brother babe, who topped Kerrang! Radio’s poll of the UK’s top ten ugliest celebrities, couldn’t remember the name of the planet’s highest summit. After dropping two dress sizes, she said she was in peak condition, unlike when she dropped out last year’s London Marathon after a whole three hours of training.

She said: “I would never ever do the marathon again. That was absolute hell.

“But the next thing I’d like to do is climb a mountain, maybe that one beginning with an E that a lot of people climb. That’s something I’d really like to push myself to do.

“I’d really like to live with those men with the shaved heads who wear orange. That’d be fun.”

In addition to learning the name of Everest, Jade may need a few navigational lessons. One of her famed quotes from Big Brother was: “Where’s East Angular [sic], though? I thought that was abroad.”

Back in real reality, Sir Ranulph Fiennes is hoping to raise £1½m for charity by climbing the North Face of the Eiger. The British explorer, who famously sawed off the ends of his own fingers after they were frostbitten, aims to climb the 1,800m (5,900ft) Nordwand to raise money for Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme.

The charity allows terminally ill patients to be cared for and die in their place of choice. He will tackle the climb in March this year.

Sir Ranulph said: “I have watched my own nearest and dearest die of a terminal illness and I understand the huge difference to patient’s morale and sense of wellbeing when they have the choice to spend their last days in the security of their own home.

“Climbing the Eiger will be truly challenging, but with every step that our three-man team takes, I know that our efforts will be making a real and tangible difference to the lives of terminally ill people, their families and their carers across the UK.”

Climber Kenton Cool and mountain photographer Ian Parnell will accompany him. More than fifty climbers have died on the face since it was first climbed in July 1938 by an amalgamated Austro-German team.

You can get details and donate at the Marie Curie site.