Oz blow to I’m a Celeb
Exclusive: Borders ‘shut until 2022’
I’M A Celebrity looks likely to return to last year’s castle in Wales after Australia ruled out reopening its borders until 2022.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he did not believe people Down Under had an “appetite” for welcoming visitors if it meant having more lockdowns.
In a later post on Facebook, he warned borders would only be opened “when it is safe to do so”.
It means the hit ITV series could be held at Gwrych Castle in North Wales for a second time this November.
Australia’s budget plan this week confirmed “international travel is expected to remain low through to mid-2022, after which a gradual recovery in tourism is assumed to occur”.
Under current Covid rules, each I’m A Celebrity cast and crew member would need to apply for individual travel exemptions in order to film the show in Australia. The last series held Down Under was won by actress Jacqueline Jossa in 2019.
Talks are thought to be ongoing at ITV.
A source told the Mirror:
“I’m A Celebrity will happen this year, it is just a case of deciding the location.” A delay in getting Covid vaccines sent to Australia is partly to blame for the border closures. Gwrych Castle near Abergele is understood to have an agreement to host the series again this year. The contestants would normally fly to Australia in November but Quantas has delayed international flights until late December.
Last week, hosts Ant and Dec said plans for this year were “up in the air”. But Ant added: “We would happily go back to Wales if we had to.”