I’m A Celeb All Stars dealt fresh blow as show winner ‘pulls out of talks’
The I’m A Celebrity… South Africa production team has reportedly been set back in the casting process for the upcoming series of the show.
A major reality star and former winner of the show is said to have dropped out of talks to return when the show comes back to ITV1 screens later this year.
The All Stars version of the series reunites old campmates for a stint in the South African desert, with last year’s cast including Shaun Ryder, Gillian McKeith, Helen Flanagan, Phil Tufnell, and Jordan Banjo.
As ITV looks to assemble another batch of stars, Vicky Pattison is said to have ceased talks for appearing on the show after she was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2015.
A source told The Sun: ‘As soon as ITV bosses decided they were bringing back the All Stars version of I’m A Celeb, they set their signs on getting Vicky Pattison back in the jungle.
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‘She won the show, so was hugely popular with viewers, and they really want the next South African series to have as many big hitters as possible.
‘Vicky was interested and did have a series of meetings with producers, but ultimately decided it’s not the right time for at the moment.’
The source cited Vicky’s current presenting duties and a ‘busy schedule’ as the reason she decided against an all-stars return to the show.
Vicky is fresh off presenting The Honesty Box on Channel 4 alongside Married at First Sight Australia star Lucinda Light and sees a group of singletons date while being put through a series of lie detector tests.
It comes after Gemma Collins is rumoured to be appearing on the upcoming season. The Towie star infamously only lasted three days in the jungle, historically telling the cameras: ‘People who murder get treated better than this. That’s the truth. Even a murderer gets fed three times a day.’
The GC fan hive might be in luck since rumours of her upcoming return to the show are in line with comments she made in 2019.
During an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, she said: ‘I will never forget getting the call. Looking back, I don’t feel I was ready for that show. I was new to TV, I was the underdog on Towie.
‘I wasn’t the best looking girl, I didn’t have a model figure, I was this car girl from Romford selling cars. I was being put in the jungle and in hindsight I wasn’t ready for it.’
She continued: ‘I felt hugely out of my depth – I was petrified. If I was to go back now, I’ve got more experience. I’ve got a tougher skin now and I think that’s where The GC came into play. If they asked me back, yes I’d go back.’
I’m a Celebrity… South Africa will return to ITV1 and ITVX.
Metro contacted ITV and Vicky Pattison for comment.
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