ITV have confirmed that I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! is returning to Wales for a second series in row.
Speculation mounted the show was returning to Wales today when Gwrych Castle, who played host to the 20th series in 2020, changed their cover photo to the I'm A Celebrity logo which features castle turrets.
Katie Rawcliffe, ITV head of entertainment commissioning, has since said: "We can confirm today that we’ll be returning to Wales for the 2021 series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! We’ve always said we have contingencies in place for the series if the covid situation continued to bring uncertainty, and after a highly successful run at the castle last year we’re pleased that we can return there. I have no doubt the production team will produce another hugely entertaining series.”
Richard Cowles, Director of Unscripted at Lifted Entertainment said: “With the continued uncertainty around covid and international travel we have taken the decision not to return to our home in Australia for the 2021 series.
"We’re excited to return to Gwrych Castle.
"The last series was a huge success and we were made to feel so welcome by everyone locally and can’t wait to see everyone again.”
Dr Mark Baker, Chair of the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust said “I’m absolutely delighted that I’m A Celebrity has chosen Gwrych Castle to be its UK location for the 2021 series.
"Gwrych Castle is a beautiful grade I listed historic house and a must-see destination for tourists visiting Wales.
"I’m A Celebrity being here will really help support its ongoing restoration as well as giving the region a much-needed economic boost. We are all very excited to be working with the team again.”
The last series of the ITV programme was filmed in the UK for the first time after the coronavirus pandemic forced producers to abandon plans to make the programme in its usual base in Australia.
Gwrych Castle have updated their Facebook header. Picture: Gwrych Castle / Facebook
In March ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said the show would return to the country for the next series if possible, adding it is “meant to be” in Australia.
Host Ant McPartlin previously said he would be “very happy” for the programme to return to Wales.
He told Digital Spy they were “welcomed” in the country, adding: “There were cardboard cutouts of me and Dec [Donnelly] in the butcher’s, and the local school did a tribute.
“We’d happily go back there. We’d miss the sunshine, mind.”
The last series of the programme was won by podcast host Giovanna Fletcher.
The Journal reported in January that there was early indications the show may stay in Wales.
The Journal was informed that ITV had secured Gwrych Castle and its grounds for a second year in case the site was needed for the popular show.
The first show of the 2020 series, which ran on Sunday, November 15 at 9pm, consolidated to an audience of 13.8m TV viewers [52 per cent audience share] over the first seven days of its availability. With 0.5m viewers watching via non-TV devices, the total reached 14.3m viewers.
It was also the most popular show of 2020 for young viewers with an average of 2.8m and two thirds [66 per cent] of 16-34s watching across the series, and overall it became the second most watched series of I'm A Celebrity, which has been on air since 2002.
Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West, said: "This is fantastic news for the Gwrych Castle and the local area. There is no doubt that having the show here last year really put Abergele and North Wales on the map and during a recent visit to the castle I was told ‘I’m a Celebrity’ is continuing to have a positive impact with there being a huge boost to visitors to the historic site.
“The castle proved to be a fantastic venue for the popular series and I am really pleased that we will all get to see it on our screens again this year.
“The show’s presence in the town provided a real buzz in Abergele following what had been a difficult year for everyone in 2020, and I’m sure its return will have the same affect this year."
Sam Rowlands, MS for North Wales, tweeted: "Proud to be a trustee here [at Gwrych Castle] and looking forward to welcoming @antanddec back to beautiful North Wales!"
The show, produced by Lifted Entertainment, part of ITV Studios, will be hosted by Ant and Dec and broadcast live every night from the ruined castle, as a brand new cast of celebrities adjust to their new surroundings.
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