The new series of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is just days away, meaning there’s not long to wait until we find out which stars have signed up for the show this year.
After plenty of rumours about how the show could work in 2020, ITV is taking a different approach this time around, swapping the jungle for a “ruined castle” in the Welsh countryside.
With plenty of names already linked to the series – and new rumours coming in thick and fast – we thought it was a good time to check in on all the celebrities tipped to be competing to become the first King or Queen of the Castle...
Giovanna Fletcher
Giovanna has been a big name in the parenting world for a long time now with various books, podcasts and vlogs, but The Sun quoted a source as saying she feels the time is right to “embrace the limelight” by signing up for the show.
Of course Giovanna already has some famous connections, as she is married to McFly star Tom Fletcher, her brother is Mario Falcone from TOWIE and her best friend is Big Brother host Emma Willis.
Jordan North
Radio 1 DJ Jordan was the final name rumoured for the show this year.
The Sun claimed he had bagged a place on the line-up after becoming the last celebrity to sign up.
Shane Richie
Best known for his long-serving role as Alfie Moon in EastEnders, Shane Richie was reported in late October to have started a two-week quarantine before heading to Wales for the new series.
The Sun quoted an “insider” who claimed that he’d been on producers’ wishlist for a number of years, but finally decided to say yes because of the change of location.
Sir Mo Farah
The four-time Olympic gold medalist is reported by The Sun to be receiving a hefty fee for his involvement in this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity, with ITV seemingly upping their budget due to the pandemic.
According to a “telly insider”, Sir Mo has “been a big fan of the show for years and was just waiting for the right time in his career to do it”.
Victoria Derbyshire
Victoria Derbyshire was one of eight celebrities reportedly spotted leaving an I’m A Celebrity photo-shoot in October, prompting speculation she’s one of the stars on this year’s line-up.
She previously hosted The Victoria Derbyshire Show on the BBC, which came to an end earlier this year as a result of budget cuts.
Vernon Kay
The former Family Fortunes and T4 presenter has been quietly hosting Formula One coverage for the last few years, and was one of the earliest stars rumoured for the series.
Like Victoria, he was also seen at the I’m a Celebrity photo-shoot, all but confirming his place on the line-up.
If he were to enter, Vernon would be appearing on TV at the same time his wife, Tess Daly, is hosting Strictly Come Dancing.
Jessica Plummer
Another of the eight stars seen at the I’m A Celebrity photo-shoot, soap fans will know Jessica for playing Chantelle Atkins on EastEnders.
Her character was killed off in traumatic scenes earlier this year, following a hard-hitting domestic violence storyline.
AJ Pritchard
The former Strictly Come Dancing pro’s name has been mentioned in the same breath as I’m A Celebrity ever since he stepped down from the BBC dance show earlier in the year.
He recently swerved questions about I’m A Celebrity during an interview with The Sun, in which he also said he’d left Strictly as the show wouldn’t allow him to pursue other opportunities he was interested in.
Beverley Callard
The soap legend is known to millions as Coronation Street’s Liz McDonald. She left her role as the former Rovers Return landlady earlier this year.
After undergoing a hip operation earlier in the year, it was thought she may have had to drop out of I’m A Celebrity, but she was also seen at the photo-shoot for the upcoming series, so it seems she’s been given the go-ahead to take part.
Russell Watson
Russell Watson came as a surprise to many when his name cropped up on the list of stars who attended the I’m A Celebrity photo-shoot, but it looks as though the famous tenor is indeed castle-bound.
Like AJ, he dodged questions about appearing on the show during a recent interview on Steph McGovern’s Channel 4 show.
Ruthie Henshall
The stage star is known for her work in musical theatre, starring in a plethora of West End productions including Cats, Les Misérables, Chicago and Billy Elliot.
She previously served as a judge on Dancing On Ice.
Hollie Arnold
Hollie rose to prominence at the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio, where she earned a gold medal for Javelin-throwing, and was later awarded an MBE.
She was the eighth celebrity seen at – you guessed it! – the infamous I’m A Celebrity photo-shoot, so it’s a fair bet we’ll be seeing her on the ITV reality show in a few weeks.
Carole Baskin
It’s hard to believe that less than a year ago, most of us had never heard of Carole Baskin. But now the Tiger King star is one of the biggest names that has been linked to I’m A Celebrity.
The Sun claimed bosses had approached her with a big money offer, but given travel restrictions – and the fact she recently appeared on Dancing With The Stars in the US – it looks as though these plans may have fallen through.
Jessie J
Pop star Jessie J is no stranger to TV audiences, having served as a judge on The Voice both in the UK and Australia, but it seems bosses are hoping to get her to swap spinning chairs for creepy crawlies.
The Sun reported that Jessie had been offered “good money” to take part in I’m A Celebrity, but quoted an unnamed source who claimed she wasn’t sure the show “was for her”.
Paul Merson
The ex-Arsenal midfielder’s name was mentioned in the same report linking Jessie J to the show, with The Sun suggesting that he was keen to relaunch his TV career after seeing football boss Harry Redknapp win the show in 2018.
John Barnes
In fact, Paul is just one of a few former footballers who have been rumoured for the show.
England legend John Barnes threw his own hat into the ring during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show back in March, alongside aforementioned King Of The Jungle Harry Redknapp.
John – who has previously been a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother – said: “From the point of view of eating anything, I eat everything and anything, so from that point of view I would do it.
“Lying around doing nothing much, I quite fancy so I’d probably look at it as a bit of a holiday.” He added: “I would do it, yeah.”
Eric Cantona
Another big footballing name said to be taking part in I’m A Celebrity is former Manchester United star Eric Cantona.
This came after executive producer Richard Cowles named Eric as his dream signing for the show, telling The Sun: “I just like the idea of Eric Cantona talking in French and coming up with really profound things. That would be good.”
The Vivienne
Drag performer The Vivienne is still riding high after winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK last year, and it was rumoured one of the big TV offers she’d received was I’m A Celebrity.
When asked about the reports during a recent interview on ITV’s Lorraine, The Vivienne seemed more than up for the challenge, telling the presenter: “Do you know what, I’ve never even thought about it really but what an absolutely amazing opportunity that would be!
“I’m petrified of spiders but get me to that jungle, I’d do it! What a great life opportunity that I’m never going to get again... I am all for that!”
Matt Baker
Matt signed off from a 10-year stint presenting The One Show back in the spring, and while he’s still got commitments with Countryfile, he was tipped to get used to a whole new outdoor environment on I’m A Celebrity, after being named as a potential contestant by bookies.
While random suggestions from bookmakers aren’t usually the best indication of who will eventually end up taking part, he didn’t completely dismiss the idea during an interview with Hello magazine.
“I haven’t had any conversations yet,” he said, but added: “I am reluctant to say no to anything without having a good think about it.”