On Air Now
The Capital Weekender with Kem Cetinay 7pm - 10pm
11 November 2020, 15:02
Who is going into I’m A Celebrity this year? Contestants will be having a whole new experience this winter but who is on the I'm A Celeb line up?
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is set to start on 15 November, with a few differences, but who is going into I'm A Celeb this year? Which celebrities are on the 2020 line-up and cast?
After it was reported the 2020 series would be filmed in Wales, due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans have been speculating about which celebrities and stars will be in the line-up for the first ever UK series.
What Castle Is Being Used For I’m A Celebrity 2020?
Now, the confirmed contestants have been revealed as none other than the likes of Shane Richie and former Strictly star, AJ Pritchard, who has also dropped some pretty heavy hints he's swapping his dancing shoes for walking boots.
Ant and Dec have confirmed the line-up was selected at the end of summer, calling it "a strong casting" – here’s what we know about the I'm A Celebrity 2020 line-up and contestants:
Roman Kemp's hilarious impression of Ant & Dec on I'm A Celeb
Strictly Come Dancing’s AJ Pritchard may be swapping the glitzy ballroom for a Welsh castle but as a show super fan, he can’t wait to take part in what he describes as ‘the best programme on TV’.
And the excited star admits he is looking forward to having a digital detox as he focuses on putting ‘110 per cent effort’ into winning as many stars as he can for his fellow camp mates.
“Doing I’m A Celebrity is a childhood dream come true,” explains AJ.
“I was so excited to watch the return of Strictly this Autumn but now I am going to be on an even better show! I can’t wait!”
“I think my friends from Strictly like Neil [Jones] and Janette [Manrara] are going to watch, which is really nice. They have always known how much I have wanted to do this programme as I have talked about it all the time!”
Former EastEnders star Shane Richie has been keeping it a big secret that he is taking part in this year’s I’m A Celebrity since January but after Covid put a stop to his other work plans, he says he can’t wait to be around adults again.
Admitting he has been asked many times before, the actor – known to millions as Alfie Moon in the soap – says he snapped up the offer this year as it was the show’s 20th anniversary.
"We got the call in January and I agreed to do it because it was the 20th one," he says. "My kids were old enough to travel to Australia and they wanted to meet Ant and Dec! We were all really excited.
"We were going to fit it around my other work projects as I was going on tour, doing a TV series and panto but that all got cancelled in March.
"And now I am literally skint! You save money for a rainy day but you don’t expect the rainy day to last six months. Thankfully I’ve been able to borrow money from mates, my family and the bank and my wife is now very happy we can finally pay off the credit card!"
He is the most decorated track and field athlete in modern Olympic Games history and now as Sir Mo Farah enters the I’m A Celebrity camp, he admits people will be very surprised he is taking part.
But the double Olympic champion at the 2012 and 2016 Games in both the 5000 and 10,000 metre races says it has always been a big goal to appear on the programme after watching it as a fan.
And so when he was approached by ITV for the first time this year, Sir Mo, 37, says he couldn’t resist accepting the offer to test himself in an arena away from running.
Explaining his reasons for going on I’m A Celebrity, Sir Mo says: “I’ve watched it on telly and thought to myself I would like to challenge myself and see what I can do – and so that is the whole reason behind it.”
“I know a lot of people will be surprised as they don’t see me in that way. They associate me with running and winning but nothing other than that. And my kids have been on at me too saying ‘I can’t see you doing that dad’ but I want to give it a go!
“I want to have fun in the camp!”
TV presenter, Vernon Kay, reveals he has signed up to I'm A Celebrity to make his two daughters proud.
And the star admits it is all down to daughters, Phoebe and Amber, that he has agreed to join his fellow celebrities in the Welsh camp this year even though he knows he will be a big softie and cry.
"One hundred per cent I will cry," says the TV entertainer. "My favourite movie is Forrest Gump. I have seen it at least 100 times and I cry every time I watch it.
"But I am excited about doing I'm a Celebrity. The physical and mental challenges will be really interesting.
"I am also looking forward to finding out who my camp mates are and building relationships with those guys - finding out who they are and what makes them who they are."
Former EastEnders actress Jessica Plummer is hoping to cure her fears in the Welsh castle as she admits her family think she is ‘mental’ for taking part.
Laughing, the 28-year-old – known to millions as Chantelle Atkins who was killed off earlier this year in the soap – also reveals those closest to her can’t believe she is giving up her luxuries to live in basic living conditions.
“Everyone I have told think I am mental,” she admits. “My family are all like ‘Jess seriously, you are such a scaredy cat and you are so precious about your luxuries, what are you signing up for?!”
“But I have reminded them I did go camping as a kid and I know I have got it in me. I am quite competitive, I played sports as a kid and I would really beat myself up if I didn’t give it my all. Hopefully this will spur me on!”
She has played one of Coronation Street’s most iconic characters on and off for more than 30 years but as Beverley Callard swaps the cobbles for a Welsh castle, the actress promises she definitely won’t be turning up with a wonder bra and short skirt on.
Laughing, the legendary star – known to millions as Corrie’s Liz McDonald – stresses she is worlds’ apart from her on-screen character and thinks viewers will get a shock to learn she definitely isn’t glamorous. Says Beverley: “I think as I have played Liz for so long, people think I am quite glamorous and they think I am covered in make-up all the time.”
“They do see me as Liz and I think they think I will be going in with a wonder bra on and a very short skirt!
Hollie Arnold holds Paralympic, World, Commonwealth and European Gold medals in the F46 javelin event and says she hopes by taking part in I’m A Celebrity, she will inspire viewers to follow their dreams.
“I don’t want it to be about my disability,” explains Hollie. “Yes I have a missing arm and I am in the Paralympics but I want to show people nothing stops me and it shouldn’t stop anyone else either.”
“I hope by going on the programme, it inspires people. I want people to look and see that I am scared but I am giving it a go.”
“And now it is here, I am feeling excited. Yes it is scary but it couldn’t have come at a better time! I can’t wait!”
Distinguished news presenter Victoria Derbyshire admits beating breast cancer has made her more determined than ever to take on new challenges – and it is one of the reasons why she is taking part in this year's I'm A Celebrity.
Admitting her colleagues will be surprised when they find out she is going to the Welsh castle, Victoria, 52, says cancer has taught her to have fun.
"This is a mad thrill adventure that I want to take part in," explains Victoria. "Because of cancer, I know more than lots of people, life is short. I am now saying 'yes' to stuff I wouldn’t have done previously. And if I don't do my boys proud, I will never live it down!
"They really, really want me to do it and they have kept it a secret for months now because they want me to do it so much!"
Popular podcaster Giovanna Fletcher has revealed how she and her family have practised I’m A Celebrity trials with runner beans.
Laughing, Giovanna– who is married to Tom Fletcher from McFly and who has more than a million Instagram followers – says they have set their very own eating trials in the past with vegetables.
“Years ago we started doing a runner bean challenge which is based on I’m A Celebrity,” she explains. “It’s where we pretend we are doing an eating trial but actually we are eating our vegetables really fast! Challenges like this find a way of becoming part of the family dynamic and I can’t wait to do this.”
Giovanna – who has interviewed dozens of famous faces, including the Duchess of Cambridge, for her podcast – adds: “As soon as I got the call asking if I would take part, it was a no brainer for me as I am such a fan. It’s going to be so weird when I arrive, as it will be like stepping inside my TV!”
DJ Jordan North reckons I’m A Celebrity will be the perfect tonic for the nation this year as he reveals he is petrified of everything.
And the radio presenter admits it’s going to be surreal to finally meet his own childhood heroes – presenters Ant and Dec.
“I’ve been watching this show ever since it started, I can remember Kerry Katona doing it all those years ago!” says Jordan.
“With everything going on this year, people will want this show on TV more than anything. We all need it. It’s my favourite show on the telly and to be part of it is a big honour. My co-presenter, Emily Atack, talked so lovingly about it all and you can’t turn something like this down.”
“I have never met Ant and Dec either and I am so excited to meet them. I loved them on SM:TV doing Wonky Donkey!”
> Grab Our App For The Latest Celeb News