WHO’S GOING TO BE IN THE JUNGLE?
SOAP stars, a former footballer and a YouTube sensation are among those reported to be heading into the I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here jungle. The popular ITV reality show, set to return for its 17th series next Sunday, has sent the rumour mill into overdrive with a wide range of names said to be in the running for the line-up.
The reality contest sees familiar faces parachute into an Australian jungle where they must survive an array of tricky trials in order to be crowned the winner.
Despite recent health woes, popular host Ant McPartlin will join co-presenter Declan Donelly Down Under as the pair were spotted jetting off from a London airport on Friday.
They will put another batch of well-known faces through those often-scary bushtucker trials as well as subject them to the public vote. But who will be joining them in the jungle? Brighton-born YouTuber Jack Maynard was the first celebrity to be confirmed for the show after he landed in Australia on Friday.
He’s the brother of singer Conor Maynard and is already in Brisbane holed away in secret ready for the show.
The star has more than 1.1 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, which should increase even more after an appearance on the hit show.
He will be joined by ex-England footballer Dennis Wise, who was snapped arriving at Brisbane Airport as he wheeled his suitcase along.
The 50-year-old former Premier League ace grinned at waiting photographers as he made his way to a taxi.
Former Chelsea and Wimbledon hardman Wise played alongside Welshman Vinnie Jones during his career and was known for his fiery temper so he could prove good value for the reality TV show.
Third to touch down at the airport was former Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas. His character Warren Fox legged it from the show only days ago after stealing one of his babies from Sienna Blake and now it looks like he is heading straight for the jungle.
Jamie is best known for his roles on Hollyoaks, EastEnders and Coronation Street but he has also starred in Brookside, Casualty and Heartbeat.
The 42-year-old is also known for his brief marriage to Corrie actress Kym Marsh.
They tragically lost their baby son Archie shortly after his birth in 2009 but later had a daughter named Polly in 2011.
Others believed to be entering the jungle are Corrie actress Jennie McAlpine, who plays Fiz in the long-running soap.
Apparently the star has been on the wish list of I’m A Celeb bosses for years and it’s believed she has been given time off by bosses.
Then there is Rebekah Vardy, the wife of Leicester City footballer Jamie Vardy, who was set to star in last year’s series but pulled out after getting pregnant with son Finley.
But now that he’s 10 months old it might be the time for the outspoken Loose Women regular to pick up where she left off.
Rebekah was one of the first people to be touted for the series back in May.
The Saturdays singer Vanessa White is also rumoured to be keen to give the jungle critters a go and so is Made in Chelsea’s Georgia Toffolo, the actress and former flame of Prince Andrew, Koo Stark, Gogglebox’s Sandra Martin and former tennis champion Boris Becker.
The sports star was declared bankrupt earlier this year so the show, which sees stars earn anything from £25,000 to six figures, couldn’t come at a better time.
Becker, 49, filed for bankruptcy in the High Court in June after “amassing a debt of £54m”.