I’m a Celebrity AJ’s Covid shock
THE forthcoming series of I’m A Celebrity has been thrown into chaos after dancer AJ Pritchard tested positive for coronavirus.
The 26-year-old Strictly star is isolating with his girlfriend Abbie Quinnen near the North Wales castle where filming of the show is due to start on Friday.
Producers at ITV are understood to be extremely concerned about other stars catching the virus as Pritchard awaits medical clearance to join the rest of the contestants.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: ‘If several stars are struck down, particularly one of the older ones, then it would throw the whole show into jeopardy and be very problematic.’
The show, which is now in its 20th year, is seen as the highlight of ITV’s entertainment line-up, with last year’s series regularly pulling in more than ten million viewers.
In light of the pandemic, filming has been moved from the Australian bush to Gwrych Castle, North Wales. Other contestants include British Olympic hero Mo Farah, newsreader Victoria Derbyshire and former EastEnders star Shane Richie.
ITV said: ‘We can confirm that a member of the cast has received a positive Covid result and that individual is self-isolating.’
Pritchard joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2016 but announced in March he was leaving to pursue a career in presenting.
Last year, former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa was crowned Queen of the Jungle with Coronation Street actor Andy Whyment coming second.