Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Jungle bosses out to sign Harry’s Heroes
Producers aim to share Redknapp show’s success
ITV want to raid Harry Heroes for this year’s I’m a Celebrity – because the show was such a hit.
Producers are eyeing up some of the stars of the ratings-winner, hoping to sprinkle some of their magic on this year’s jungle shenanigans.
Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh saw former Spurs and West Ham boss Harry Redknapp reunited with his old squad of England internationals including John Barnes,
Paul Merson, Ray Parlour, Matt Le Tissier, Lee Sharpe, David Seaman and Mark Wright.
The show has previous links to I’m a Celebrity.
Harry was crowned King of the Jungle when he was a contender in 2018, while Neil “Razor” Ruddock was part of the third series, in 2004, beaten to the crown by Kerry Katona. It is not known which name ITV could go for but Barnes has already thrown his hat into the ring.
He said earlier this year: “I’ve done a number of shows from Family Fortune to Strictly Come Dancing but nothing as adventurous as I’m a Celeb. “There’s nothing that I wouldn’t eat or wouldn’t do. “I’m fairly easy going. If they asked me to do something, I’d do it.
“The only fear I have is of sharks so by saying this I’m sure they’re going to put me in a tank with sharks but I guess that’s the nature of the game. But everything else I would be fine with.
“Similar to why I went on to do Strictly... all those years ago, it’d be good to lose some weight, perhaps try to beat Nick Knowles’s two-stone loss.”
The Mirror told earlier this year how departing Coronation Street favourite Beverley Callard has already signed up for jungle duties. The 63-year old soap star has played Rovers barmaid Liz
Mcdonald on and off for more than 30 years, after first appearing on the cobbles in 1989.
Last year fitness fanatic Callard announced she was quitting the soap once again and she has jumped at the chance to appear in the jungle. One television insider revealed: “Everyone was thrilled when Bev said yes, she is such a well-loved ITV face, it’ll be great to see her antics in the jungle. What a treat for fans.”
ITV bosses also remain hopeful that I’m a Celebrity, fronted from Australia by Ant and Dec, will go ahead at the end of the year despite the pandemic halting great swathes of TV production.
The source said: “We’re booking as usual and remaining hopeful – November is a long way off.”