I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here bosses have begun preparations for the 2021 series at Gwrych Castle, after the show was forced to relocate to Wales for the second year in a row.
Contractors are working round the clock to complete renovations on the site after it was moved back to the UK at the last minute, with builders seen delivering equipment while tourists visited the castle on Sunday.
This year ITV bosses were once again forced to abort plans to film I’m A Celebrity in Australia, as the country remains in lockdown due to the ongoing Covid pandemic.
Getting ready! I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here bosses have begun preparations for the 2021 series at Gwrych Castle, after the show was forced to relocate to Wales for the second year in a row
After the castle underwent drastic renovations for filming last year, crew appear to once again be transforming the site ahead of the new series.
A crane could be seen carrying items into the castle, while diggers were also loaded with bags of soil and cement.
It comes following reports that one celebrity had pulled out of taking part after learning the series had been moved to Wales.
Coming soon: Contractors are working round the clock to complete renovations on the site after it was moved back to the UK at the last minute (hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are pictured)
In the works: After the castle underwent drastic renovations for filming last year, crew appear to once again be transforming the site ahead of the new series
Can you see it? A crane could be seen carrying the equipment into the castle for further works, after the crumbling castle was transformed last year
Back to work! Crew will be working round the clock to renovate the castle before the celebrities enter for the new series, which usually begins in November
Hot attraction: Local tourists could also be seen paying a visit to the castle, following its huge increase in popularity since last year’s series
Essentials: Builders were laden with bags of soil and cement as they continued working on renovations for the castle
Drama: It comes following reports that one celebrity had pulled out of taking part after learning the series had been moved to Wales
Other stars are also said to be getting ‘cold feet’ as they fear ‘roughing it in wet Wales won’t be as fun as the jungle’.
A source told The Sun: ‘One popular star dropped out immediately. Bosses are still in talks with loads of top celebs about taking part and feel confident this won’t put people off given last year’s success.’
They added: ‘Luckily for bosses, the ones who have signed contracts are all still on board.’
Who will sign up? Other stars are also said to be getting ‘cold feet’ as they fear ‘roughing it in wet Wales won’t be as fun as the jungle’
Big names? A source told The Sun: ‘One popular star dropped out immediately. Bosses are still in talks with loads of top celebs about taking part and feel confident this won’t put people off given last year’s success’
No more pulling out: They added: ‘Luckily for bosses, the ones who have signed contracts are all still on board’
Big names? Producers are hoping they have enough time to book major talent, before the series kicks off this autumn
Huge hit: Insiders revealed to MailOnline at the start of the week that the show has been thrown into chaos following the last minute change of plans, although there is no fear behind the scenes of the show’s success
Producers are hoping they have enough time to book major talent, before the series kicks off this autumn.
MailOnline reached out to ITV representatives for comment at the time.
Insiders revealed to MailOnline that the show has been thrown into chaos following the last minute change of plans, although there is no fear behind the scenes of the show’s success after the roaring triumph of last year’s Welsh series.
On the show, sources said: ‘It doesn’t mean the series will be below par as the last series was the second most popular in show series and that was in Wales. Bosses are working hard to get things ready for the launch following Australia’s status change.’
Popular: The show’s first ever UK-based series proved to be a huge success, with some of the highest ratings in the show’s history
Riding high: On the show, sources said: ‘It doesn’t mean the series will be below par as the last series was the second most popular in show series and that was in Wales’
Last year’s series – won by Giovanna Fletcher in the backdrop of the country’s Gwrych Castle – was a success despite its move from the jungle amid restrictions in place from the coronavirus pandemic.
The last series was the second most popular series since IAC started. The launch episode got 14.3 million viewers consolidated.
Australia has tightened the screw on its strict Covid lockdowns – ordering millions in Queensland to stay at home until at least the end of the week as the country struggles to control outbreaks of the highly-infectious Delta variant.
In New South Wales, where the series is typically filmed, government restrictions mean residents are only allowed travel 5km away from their home for exercise, and all non-essential business have been ordered to close.
Safe but successful: Last year’s series – won by Giovanna Fletcher in the backdrop of the country’s Gwrych Castle – was a success despite its move from the jungle amid restrictions in place from the coronavirus pandemic
Huge numbers: The last series was the second most popular series since IAC started. The launch episode got 14.3 million viewers consolidated
Restrictions: Australia has tightened the screw on its strict Covid lockdowns – ordering millions in Queensland to stay at home until at least the end of the week as the country struggles to control outbreaks of the highly-infectious Delta variant
Change of plans: Bosses confirmed earlier this month that this year’s I’m A Celebrity would once again be filmed in Wales, while the state of New South Wales remains in lockdown
The change in status has led to the overhaul in bosses’ plans.
Katie Rawcliffe, ITV Head of Entertainment Commissioning, said: ‘We can confirm today that we’ll be returning to Wales for the 2021 series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!…
‘We’ve always said we have contingencies in place for the series if the covid situation continued to bring uncertainty, and after a highly successful run at the castle last year we’re pleased that we can return there…
‘I have no doubt the production team will produce another hugely entertaining series.’
Going back! ‘We’ve always said we have contingencies in place for the series if the covid situation continued to bring uncertainty, and after a highly successful run at the castle last year we’re pleased that we can return there…’
Limitations: Currently the state of New South Wales is in a stringent Covid lockdown, with all residents ordered to stay at home and non-essential businesses ordered to close following a huge surge in cases
Announcement: Richard Cowles, Director of Unscripted at Lifted Entertainment said: ‘With the continued uncertainty around covid and international travel we have taken the decision not to return to our home in Australia for the 2021 series…’
Richard Cowles, Director of Unscripted at Lifted Entertainment said: ‘With the continued uncertainty around covid and international travel we have taken the decision not to return to our home in Australia for the 2021 series…
‘We’re excited to return to Gwrych Castle. The last series was a huge success and we were made to feel so welcome by everyone locally and can’t wait to see everyone again.’
Dr Mark Baker, Chair of the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust said ‘I’m absolutely delighted that I’m A Celebrity has chosen Gwrych Castle to be its UK location for the 2021 series.’
Statement: They added: ‘We’re excited to return to Gwrych Castle. The last series was a huge success and we were made to feel so welcome by everyone locally and can’t wait to see everyone again’
Thrilled: Dr Mark Baker, Chair of the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust said ‘I’m absolutely delighted that I’m A Celebrity has chosen Gwrych Castle to be its UK location for the 2021 series’
Final decision: Back in May it was revealed that bosses needed to decide within the two weeks whether the show returns to Australia or remains in Wales for a second year
Back in May it was revealed that bosses needed to decide within the two weeks whether the show returns to Australia or remains in Wales for a second year.
The ITV series filmed in Gwrych Castle last year after the Covid-19 pandemic made it impossible for the show to travel safely to Australia.
A source told MailOnline: ‘ITV need to decide in the next two weeks whether they go to Australia or Wales this year. It’s decision time!
‘However if they choose Australia there is every chance it could be cancelled later down the line because of Covid If they choose Wales, it is guaranteed it will happen.’
Relocation: The ITV series filmed in Gwrych Castle last year after the Covid-19 pandemic made it impossible for the show to travel safely to Australia
Final call: A source told MailOnline: ‘ITV need to decide in the next two weeks whether they go to Australia or Wales this year. It’s decision time!’
The source added that if the show does remain in Wales for another series, ITV will have to fork out more cash than they would for Australia.
They added: ‘It costs MORE to film in Wales than fly to Australia as it’s a four month set build. That’s why they have to make a decision now. Time is running out. And there is no show without them. So it’s all pointing to being Wales. Oz is far too risky.’
An ITV spokesperson has since confirmed to MailOnline that bosses have ‘plans in place’ for both locations.
They said: ‘No decisions have been made regarding the location for the new series and we have contingencies and plans in place for all possible options.’
It comes after reports the show’s location remained up in the air after Australia warned international borders will remain closed indefinitely.
Earlier this week, Australia’s Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said reopening the borders too soon would expose the country to another and more ruthless outbreak of Covid – with Finance Minister Simon Birmingham pushing the date to 2022.
Due to current regulations, travel to Australia is only permitted if travellers are ‘exempt’ or have been ‘granted an individual exemption’.
According to The Mirror, ‘talks are thought to be ongoing at ITV’ while Gwrych Castle is said to ‘have an agreement’ to host I’m A Celebrity again this year.
Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly recently said that plans to return to Australia for I’m A Celebrity this year are ‘still up in the air’.
The Prime Minister said Australians had come to accept local lockdowns as ‘part of living with Covid-19’ and that residents did not have ‘an appetite’ for change.
He warned that reopening the borders too soon would expose the country to another and more ruthless outbreak of Covid-19, like the ones experienced in the UK, India and Europe.
‘We sit here as an island that’s living like few countries in the world are at the moment,’ he told The Sunday Telegraph.
‘We have to be careful not to exchange that way of life for what everyone else has.’
Australians have been banned from leaving the country since March 2020 without special exemptions, and only citizens and permanent residents have been allowed to enter under some of the strictest Covid-19 border rules in the world.
