‘We’re trying to give kids in Manchester an opportunity to work in TV’
TV DUO BRING SCHEME TO CITY - AND SAY NEXT SERIES OF I’M A CELEB ... WILL BE EXCITING
I’M A Celebrity hosts Ant and Dec say they are excited to be heading back to North Wales for the new series of the ITV reality show.
Presenting duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly revealed on a visit to Manchester that they’ve been told who is in the line-up by show bosses, and it’s shaping up to be another thrilling series.
Last week they had a meeting with bosses to run through plans for the 21st series.
During a visit to Manchester in connection with their Making it in Media programme, Ant said: “We hear who the cast are. We know where it’s up to at this point in time.
“There’s a lot of people who fall out, or join or change, get cold feet, decide not to do it.
“They show us pictures of who is in the initial line-up and it’s very exciting.”
Dec said: “They talk us through how the first week will run and what formats they’ve got planned.
“It’s looking really good. It’s shaping up to be a good series.”
The pair say they feel at home at Gwrych Castle, Abergele after the show moved there last year because of the Covid pandemic.
“We’re actually really excited to be back in Wales,” said Dec.
“We had such a nice time last year and everybody was really welcoming, even though the place was in lockdown when we were there last time.
“We got a really warm reception. The fact we can’t travel this year means we’ve got an amazing failsafe in going back to Wales.
“We’re dead happy to be going back there.”
Ant and Dec, who shot to fame on the CBBC drama Byker Grove, were in Manchester to bring their Making it in Media programme with The Prince’s Trust to the city. It’s a twoweek programme for those aged 16 to 25 and not in work, education or training that gives them opportunity to gain industry knowledge from experts.
They are seeking media and entertainment employers in the region that would like to hire young talent this autumn.
“When we started out nobody had a mobile phone, never mind an Instagram account, so that’s been a massive change,” said Ant.
“And the industry has changed so quickly on how you shoot things and how you can be an editor, presenter, director all in one these days.
“The opportunities are immense and we’re just trying to give kids who wouldn’t normally get an opportunity the opportunity to work in what is a brilliant industry.”
And Dec said: “And that’s because we got into it by the side door. None of our families were ever interested or involved in TV in any way.
“We always enjoyed telly, we still love telly and watch loads of telly and we fell into Byker Grove and suddenly it opened up a whole new world to us. Without that opportunity we would have never been in the industry.”
● Contact The Trust on Gethiredinfo@princes-trust.org.uk