£250k jungle pay day for TV host Vernon Kay
...and he may not need passport
VERNON Kay will bank £250,000 after signing up for this year’s I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! – which could shift to Britain.
The TV and radio presenter has been approached to join the line-up for the past two years, but talks stalled.
Now show insiders are thrilled to have finally clinched a deal, believed to be worth £250,000.
It means the former All Stars Family Fortune host – who is married to Tess Daly – will appear on ITV’s biggest show over the autumn while his wife presides over BBC One’s Saturday-night hit Strictly Come Dancing.
Flirty
One insider said: “Everyone’s so pleased to have Vernon on board. He’s a lovely guy, full of down-to-earth northern charm and just perfect for the show.”
Vernon, 46, has seen his career flatline after sending flirty text messages to former page 3 model Rhian Sugden in 2010.
In recent years the dad-of-two has hosted Formula E racing on Channel 5 and YouTube, after Family Fortunes ended in 2015 and diving show Splash was axed after two runs in 2014.
His huge payout still puts him behind Noel Edmonds, who pocketed £600,000, the highest amount on the show.
Harry Redknapp and Caitlyn Jenner both got £500,000 while Ian Wright and Amir Khan both trousered £400,000 for their stint Down Under.
Katie Price was paid £350,000.
Earlier this month Vernon said that the lockdown had brought him closer to Tess, 51, after 16 years of marriage.
It was revealed in April that Coronation Street favourite Beverley Callard has also done a deal for this year’s show. Other stars rumoured to be in talks include former footballer Paul Merson, who has successfully battled his gambling and alcohol addictions, and Price Tag singer Jessie J.
ITV chiefs are working on a plan to relocate this year’s I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here to the UK if Covid-19 flare-ups in Australia continue.
Channel bosses are so determined to ensure the 20th series goes ahead they are scoping out alternative venues in the UK as a plan B for a show which pulled in 10 million viewers last year.
They are desperate for the ratings juggernaut, fronted by Ant and Dec, to go ahead, having seen advertising halve during the pandemic.
One source said: “Having I’m A Celebrity for three weeks in November is seen as a huge priority.
“Everyone hopes to get back to Australia but they are struggling massively with flare-ups resulting in second lockdowns.
“It simply may not be possible because of safety.
“A decision must be made next month – so the team is looking at stately homes, castles and mansions in remote areas of Scotland and England.
“A dark, cold and spooky version of the show would be good fun – it would certainly be different.”