The trailer for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! has dropped meaning the start date can’t be far away.
This year’s series will see Holly Willoughby join Declan Donnelly in the jungle as she steps into Ant McPartlin’s shoes for one series while he recovers from a rehab stint earlier in the year.
It’s the first time in the show’s 16-year history that Ant won’t have hosted with Dec.
The trailer for the new series dropped at the weekend and with Holly already having packed in her job on This Morning in to jet to Australia, it can only be a matter of days before we get to meet the next new batch of celebs Down Under..
Here’s everything we know about I’m A Celebrity so far…
When is I’m A Celebrity 2018 kicking off?
ITV is yet to confirm a start date for the 18th series of I’m A Celebrity.
However, going on past series’ launch dates, the jungle fun is likely to kick off on Sunday 18 November.
The show typically starts on the third Sunday of November, but some years has begun on the second Sunday, meaning 11 November is also a contender.
We’ll just have to sit patiently until ITV announce the official launch date.
What about this trailer?
The trailer dropped at the weekend but, interestingly, doesn’t include hosts Dec or Holly.
It may be that the pair haven’t arrived in Oz yet to film it or perhaps they’ve recorded a tease for when the start date is finally revealed instead.
What have Dec and Holly said about the new series so far?
Dec will be joined by This Morning presenter and BFF Holly Willoughby in the jungle this year.
Speaking of her new job, Holly admitted she was over the moon to be asked, but insisted she’s simply keeping Ant’s shoes ‘warm’, rather then filling them.
‘I couldn’t be more excited to have been asked to stand alongside Dec for the next jungle adventure,’ she said.
‘I love Ant and want to send him my best wishes and support for a continued recovery. These are big shoes, not to fill, but just to keep warm for a little bit…
‘Honestly, I’m a huge fan of ‘I’m a Celebrity’ and actually feel like I’ve won a competition to go and hang out on my favourite show! When is it a good time to tell Dec I’m scared of everything that moves?!’
Holly’s casting of course poses questions, such as: Will Dec and Holly film a new ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Heeeerrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeee’ opening segment? Will Holly poke as much fun at Dec as Ant does? Will Dec be as mischievous with Holly as he was with Ant? Who will play golf with Dec in-between filming? Who will replace Holly on This Morning while she’s in the jungle?
Dec himself is aware the series won’t be the same as what fans are used to, telling fans they will work hard to ensure it’s still fun.
‘I am hugely grateful to Holly for agreeing to accompany me to Australia this year,’ he said in a statement. ‘She was at the top of my list and I’m thrilled she said yes.
‘It will be a different kind of series but we will try our best to ensure it is no less fun and eventful for our loyal viewers. I am also pleased to hear Holly is scared of everything.
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‘I am almost stupidly excited at the thought of watching her during the eating trials!’
In fact, Dec joked about Holly replacing Ant in last year’s series when it was initially rumoured that Ant wouldn’t make it after his rehab stint last summer.
While Holly is Down Under, Rochelle Humes is stepping into her shoes as co-host of This Morning alongside Philip Schofield.
Who’s in the line-up?
A bunch of new names have entered the frame as potential campmates in recent days – some of whom could well be a shoo-in for the jungle if the odds on them taking part are anything to go by.
We won’t know the official line-up until closer to launch date next month – but here’s who’s currently got their name in the frame…
Charlie Sloth
Following his abrupt departure from BBC Radio 1Xtra Charlie is now odds-on for a spot on the ITV show, according to Ladbrokes.
‘It was a strange move from Charlie Sloth at last week’s ARIA Awards but it looks like he’s set for a stint in the jungle in the next few weeks,’ said bookies’ spokesperson Alex Apati.
Malique Thompson-Dwyer
Hollyoaks star Malique Thompson-Dwyer has coyly hinted that he is going in the jungle.
At a recent Hollyoaks press screening, Richard Arnold picked his brains over the stunt sequence, suggesting with a wink that he has a bigger challenge on the horizon at the end of the year before he hummed the I’m A Celebrity theme tune. Malique laughed but Metro.co.uk pressed him for further details.
He smiled: ‘I heard about that too, you know! It’s all speculation, though – but if it DID happen, it would be a good experience and a life changing one as well!’
Anne Hegerty
She might be fearsome as The Chase’s Governess, but how would Anne Hegarty handle a stint in the jungle? Chances are we may get to find out, as she’s heavily tipped to be taking part – and has even been spotted leaving a London hotel laden down with bags and luggage, sparking speculation she is on her way to Australia.
Harry Redknapp
Football manager Harry is looking all set for the show – and could well be one to watch if he does take part,’ a source told the Mirror.
‘Harry is never anything less than good value. He’s had a long, interesting career and knows a lot of famous people. He’ll be fun to watch.
Sair Khan
Actress Sair is best known for playing Alya Nazir in Corrie – but could she be about to swap the cobbles for camp? She wouldn’t be the first Coronation Street star to take the plunge, following Jennie McAlpine’s success in last year’s series.
Emily Atack
The Inbetweeners star has been in the news of late after rumours that she had enjoyed a series of secret rendezvous with Strictly star Seann Walsh.
According to The Sun she’s now top of producers’ wishlist as a potential ‘star booking’ for the show – and we bet she’d have something to say about those rumours if she did join the jungle.
Fleur East
The former X Factor runner-up (she finished second to Ben Haenow in 2014) turned Sax hitmaker is said to be in talks to take part in the show – with a source saying she would certainly ‘be a hit with audiences’.
‘She’s part of the ITV family, they added. ‘The relationship is already there and they are just negotiating a deal at the moment.’
Tim Henman
The days of Henmania might be gone from Wimbledon – but they might just be about to come back in the I’m A Celebrity jungle. The four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist is an 11/2 shot with the bookies to take part in the show this year.
Lucy Fallon
The 22-year-old Corrie star – best known for her role as Bethany Platt – is being tipped as a potential candidate for camp life this year, and she’s certainly shown interest.
‘I like to challenge myself and that’s the most challenging show you can do,’ the actress said when asked about a possible stint on the series. Well that sounds promising to us.
Danny Dyer
The EastEnders star is being tipped to be a contestant in the jungles of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Dyer appeared on Good Evening Britain, where he talked about his daughter Dani Dyer, who is currently a contestant on the ITV2 dating show Love Island.
He told the show’s hosts, Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid that actually, reality TV is alright. ‘You know me Piers, I’ve done a bit of reality TV.’
After his comments, bookies William Hill reported an odds drop from 8/1 to 5/1 on him getting into I’m A Celebrity, OK! Online reports.
A spokesperson for the betting company said: ‘Danny made it clear that he is not against reality TV and we think there is a great chance that he will be off to the jungle.
‘Although we think Strictly might not be up his street.’
Dani Dyer
Dani Dyer has been tipped for her third reality TV show after her successful run on Love Island this year with saw her win the series with boyfriend Jack Fincham.
Given her popularity, bookies predicted Dani could go on to become Queen of the Jungle on I’m A Celeb.
She’s well-versed when it comes to reality TV shows too, as she also took party in Survival Of The Fittest before Love Island but had to drop out at the beginning due to injury.
Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson is going to have a bit more time on his hands now he’s resigned as Foreign Secretary, so what better way to fill that time than by eating bugs and kangaroo balls on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Bookies have Boris at 20/1 to follow in his dad Stanley’s footsteps with a ‘surprise stint’ in the jungle at the end of the year.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: ‘The Johnson family have recent history with Reality TV shows, and despite being in the centre of a Brexit storm, we’re not completely ruling out a stint Down Under for BoJo.’
It would be one way of escaping the scrutiny of the UK – if he’s not making a bid to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister in the wake of his resignation.
Stanley entered the jungle last year and has since carved out a bit of a reality TV career for himself.
After befriending last year’s winner Georgia Toffolo on the show, he went on to make a cameo appearance on Made In Chelsea.
Stanley had joked at the time that he was most looking forward to seeing ‘if Boris is still Foreign Secretary’ when he left the jungle.
Brendan Cole
It’s no surprise to see Brendan being tipped for all sorts now that he’s no longer a part of Strictly (he’s also been rumoured for Celebrity Big Brother) but the bookies have certainly thrown their weight behind him following fellow Strictly alumni Vincent Simone and Ola Jordan and joining the jungle this year.
Frankie Bridge
Husband Wayne’s already had his stint on the show, taking part in the 2016 series – so could it be Frankie’s turn this time?
She’s no stranger to celeb reality TV – so we wouldn’t rule it out.
Nick Knowles
The DIY SOS frontman has entered the betting after reports that he’s been offered a six-figure sum to take part in this year’s series.
All of which would represent a first for the presenter, who’s hosted reality shows in the past – but has yet to actually be a contestant.
Catherine Tyldesley
She was tipped for Strictly Come Dancing but now the line-up has been revealed, we know she’s not on it. And, with her Corrie exit earlier this month, it means she’s got plenty of free time for I’m A Celebrity.
According to the bookies, Catherine is in the running for the jungle show and has odds of 4/5 of her heading Down Under.
‘Rumours over her next career move went into overdrive after she spoke about her relatives in Australia and her desire to spend some time there,’ said Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead, ‘and we think it’s all building up to a perfect match with a stint in the jungle.
‘Should she go down under we think she’d prove extremely popular on the show and would certainly make her one of the favourites.’
What about Extra Camp?
It was confirmed back in April that Scarlett would be returning to Australia to front the I’m A Celeb spin-off show again, alongside Joe Swash and Joel Dommett.
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