'There's much more at stake!'

As Ant and Dec return to Wales with a new band of campmates, TV Times goes behind the scenes of the 2021 series…

- VICTORIA WILSON

I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE!

NEW SUN-FRI / ITV / TIMES VARY / ENTERTAINMENT

Creepy-crawlies, treacherous trials and frightened famous faces can only mean one thing: ITV’s hugely popular I’m a Celebrity… Get Me out of Here! is back.

With the ongoing pandemic preventing the show from returning to its usual venue in the Australian jungle, hosts Ant and Dec will be bringing us all the highlights from Gwrych Castle in North Wales for the second year running.

The final line-up is always kept secret until the first show airs but among those rumoured to be taking part are Loose Women’s Frankie Bridge, former Strictly judge Dame Arlene Phillips and Good Morning Britain host Richard Madeley.

Here, in an exclusive interview, executive producer Olly Nash tells TV Times how the 2021 series will test the contenders to the limit…

What are the main challenges of filming in Gwrych Castle, and how are you overcoming them?

Even though it looks beautiful, the castle is cold, wet and windy and very little of it has a roof!

So everything – from plumbing to waste water, toilets, crew catering, electricity – has to be brought in. We started bringing in Portakabins and building workshops in August.

And what are the benefits of the castle setting?