I Am A Celebrity will be filming a secret show in South Africa – with the series airing in MONTH

To exclude, to expel:

I’m A Celeb bosses are bracing for the possibility of shooting the series live in Australia which could be subject to a setback due to Covid restrictions

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I’m A Celebrity: Ant & Dec say they hope they’ll return to the jungle

A new I’m a Celebrity series will be filmed in South Africa, with the outcome being kept quiet until it airs.

ITV bosses are planning to pre-record the hit show in a sunny location, after having to film in a castle in North Wales during the Covid pandemic.

Hosts Ant and Dec will join the slightly shorter two-week show, which is scheduled to be pre-recorded in July.

It will be shown in November, if plans to shoot the series live in Australia fail due to Covid restrictions, or keep it for airing early next year.

An insider explained: “This is a great backup plan in case Covid restrictions re-emerge in the Fall and the cast and crew are unable to get Down Under, as it happened. in the past two years.

“There is no feeling of wanting to return to Wales. It was great when it lasted but it was too dark and wet. Everyone has had enough, including viewers.

“We need sun and new challenges. If we can go back to Australia – that would be great. After that, South Africa will broadcast early next year.

“Australian authorities are proving quite difficult when it comes to Covid lockdowns and restrictions. If we can’t go, we’ll prepare this for the fall, to broadcast before the World Cup. It’s a solid, win-win Plan B.”

The show will officially begin within a few days, and ticket-bookers will then prepare for celebrity registrations.

The 2020 and 2021 series are set in the spooky Gwrych Castle in Abergele.

The first premiere, shown during the lockdown, drew 8.4 million spectators but by last year that number had dwindled to around 3 million.

The final drew 7.1 million viewers – 5 million fewer than the year before.

The makers of the franchise, which debuted in 2002, are looking for a way to get I’m a Celebrity without a live audience voting on the Bushtucker Trials, evictions, and winners. The source added: “There are some interesting ideas.”

The South African venue could be Kruger National Park, which has hosted shows by France, Denmark, Germany, Hungary and Romania.

Another possibility is the northern province of Limpopo, where the Russian show will take place. ITV Dame CEO Carolyn McCall has made it clear that the show will not take place in Wales this year. “This program is meant to be in Australia,” she said last month.

I Am A Celebrity 2022 will premiere later this year on ITV and ITV Hub.