I’m a Celebrity warms to a date in South Africa
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AFTER hosting from the jungle Down Under and a castle in Wales, Ant and Dec are set to go on safari as I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! heads to South Africa.
ITV bosses are planning the hush-hush alternative location for a shorter two-week run which will be pre-recorded in July for airing early next year.
Telly chiefs are also using the series as a back-up for this autumn.
Sunshine
This is in case Covid restrictions ruin plans to take the show back to Australia for the first time since 2019.
The move ensures the hit show’s next outing will be in sunshine after the cold and wet of North Wales proved too much.
This means a live show from Australia will still also take place, if possible.
And the completed South African version will be kept on ice and the
Nicola Methven
results under wraps. An insider explained: “This is a brilliant reserve plan in case Covid restrictions come round again and the cast and crew can’t get Down Under, as happened for the past two years.
“There is no appetite to go back to Wales.
“It was great while it lasted but it’s just too dark and damp – everyone’s had enough, including the viewers.”
Kruger National Park is likely to be the South African location, which has hosted the French, Danish, German, Hungarian and Romanian versions.
The insider added: “If we can get back to Australia, fantastic. Then the South African version would air early next year. Aussie authorities are tough when it comes to restrictions.
“If we can’t go, we’ll have this one ready to air ahead of the World Cup [in November]. It’s a solid plan B and is win-win.”