I’m A Celebwaity

Show chiefs still in talks over Aussie or Wales location, say Ant and Dec

ANT Mcpartlin and Declan Donnelly are waiting to find out whether I’m A Celebrity will return Down Under, saying it’s “still all up in the air”.

Show bosses are in talks with officials in Australia to see if this year’s series will be staged in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, after the programme’s 20th series was filmed at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, Wales, last year due to pandemic restrictions.

Dec said: “It’s still all up in the air. People are having conversations with Australia to see if they’ll let us in, and to see if that’s going to work.” A source at ITV told the Mirror a decision must be made by September. Last year Gwrych Castle was confirmed as the venue in late August, though a UK castle option was first reported by the Mirror in July. The Geordie pair say they would “gladly” return to Wales if Australia does not work out, calling it a “lovely alternative”.

Dec told ITV’S Lorraine show: “We had a really lovely series and the people of North Wales made us feel very welcome. We’d gladly go back there.”

Ant added: “Having the castle as a backdrop really helped with challenges and reference points. All the celebs absolutely loved it. So we’d happily go back.”

The hosts want former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan as a camper.

Ant said: “He’s not working at the moment, so he’ll be looking for a job.” Lorraine Kelly replied: “It would be quite interesting to say the least.”

Former footballer Paul Gascoigne also said he was interested in going on the show this week, but Ant and Dec’s ITV pal Stephen Mulhern has said it would take millions of pounds to sign him up.

Bosses have begun approaching celebs and aim to have the line-up organised by late summer, but it is proving tricky as the location is not yet known.

Campmates who go Down Under have the added bonus of a free holiday on the Gold Coast and stay in the upmarket Versace hotel courtesy of ITV.

Ant and Dec READY TO SET UP CAMP