Possible Contestants For 2020 I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here

The hit ITV show, I’m a Celebrity, is set to return to our screens this winter for its 20th season, assuming that current restrictions are relaxed by then.  The three-week series, located in the challenging Australian jungle, will be led once more by presenting duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.  We understand that producers are busy planning the series, and the selection of contestants is critical to the success of the show.  The 2018 series was the most successful to date in terms of viewer numbers, in great part due to the engaging personalities of the final three contestants – Harry Rednapp, the winner, Emily Atak and John Barrowman.  Last year, Jaqueline Jossa was crowned Queen of the Jungle and viewers will be keen to see who takes her place in the new series.

Bookmakers are already taking bets on who the likely contestants will be but the final list will not be announced until shortly before the show starts on 17 November and, even then, the producers like to surprise us and introduce new faces into the mix.  Nigh on 200 celebrities are in the running, comprising the usual mix of actors, entertainers, and sportsmen/women.  

It’s very early days but it does look like the bookies fancy a few soap stars to join in the bushtucker trials fun.  Beverley Callard, who played Liz McDonald in Coronation Street, is said to be signing up for the show with her former colleague Lucy Fallon (who played Bethany Platt) also being touted along with Tilly Keeper who plays Louise Mitchell in Eastenders (with odds of 7/1 from SkyBet).  Alan Halsall, aka Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street may also be signing up with bookmaker SkyBet also offering odds of 7/1 that he will do so.  

Lifestyle blogger and YouTuber LadBaby, aka Mark Ian Hoyle, is rumoured to be joining them with Irish bookmakers Paddy Power offering odds of 3/10.  Fellow entertainer, the dancer and choreographer AJ Pritchard of Strictly Come Dancing fame, is also a contender with odds of 11/4 from the same bookie.  

Reality stars are an important component of the line-up.  Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing is thought to be considering an offer with bookmaker Betfair providing odds of 6/1.  Wes Nelson, who appeared in the 2018 series of Love Island, could now be heading to the more challenging environment of the Australian jungle, with odds of 7/1 from SkyBet.  Maura Higgins, who appeared in the 2019 series of the same show, is also an option with odds of 8/1 from Paddy Power.  Kem Cetinay, who won Love Island in 2017 with partner Amber Davies, is a 7/1 bet to join, with those odds on offer from SkyBet.  

Nadia Sawalha, actress, presenter and celebrity chef, may be keen to sample jungle fare, with odds of 6/1 from Paddy Power.   The Loose Women star may be joined by fellow panellist Katie Price, with odds of 8/1 from the same bookmaker that the contentious TV personality will make a stir at the jungle camp.

Karl Phillips, leader of his eponymous band Karl Phillips and The Rejects, is also in the running with odds of 14/1 from SkyBet.  Broadcaster, journalist and star of Top Gear and now The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson would be a marvellously acerbic addition to the line-up with odds of 5/1 on offer from bookmaker Paddy Power.  Chris Ramsey, actor and comedian, may also be coming into the mix with odds of 7/1 from SkyBet.  Jack Shepherd, actor, playwrite, director and musician is a contender with odds of 8/1 from the same bookie.  He would be rather older than many contestants but at the age of 79 would provide a degree of balance to the group.  

Ricky Hatton MBA, the charismatic former boxer who held world champion titles at both light welterweight and welterweight, is mooted as a contestant, with odds of 1/3 from SkyBet.  Paul Merson, formerly of Arsenal and now a TV football pundit, may be joining the jungle jinks (with odds of 1/3 from Paddy Power.  

Perhaps the most surprising name on the list is that of Robbie Williams.  Bookmaker Paddy Power offers odds of 8/1 that the singer/songwriter and entertainer will join I’m a Celebrity this winter.  Mr Williams does not need the money, nor the shot-in-the-arm boost of increased profile that most contestants value so highly, so it will be interesting to see if his rumoured involvement comes true.