I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 2016 runner-up Joel Dommett has admitted he “feels really bad” for this year’s contestants after the show was moved from its usual location in the Australian Outback to a remote castle in North Wales.
The next line-up of famous faces, which is rumoured to include EastEnders actor Jake Wood, Jessie J and former Strictly Come Dancing pro AJ Pritchard, will have to brave the harsh winter conditions in the UK and Joel, who presented spin-off show I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp until it was axed last year, has revealed that he wouldn’t sign up for the show this year.
Speaking on Loose Women, he said, “The only saving grace is that it’s sunny. And it’s not going to be sunny in Wales.”
And when asked if he would have agreed to appear on the show if it was in the UK, the comedian continued, “Oh no, oh no, I feel really bad for those contestants this year.”
“I'm genuinely so excited about I'm A Celeb this year, I think it's really exciting, it's going to be a new place and have new challenges, I just really feel for them.”
CHECK the rumoured I'm A Celeb 2020 line-up
I'm A Celeb 2020 rumoured contestants - slider
1 of 21Jessie J
I'm A Celeb bosses have allegedly approached Jessie J following reports that they want to book "top talent to keep viewers hooked". We hope we get to see Channing Tatum waiting at the bridge for her, tbh.
2 of 21Vernon Kay
Vernon Kay has apparently signed up for I'm A Celeb 2020 following a rumoured £250,000 pay check.
3 of 21Beverley Callard
Coronation Street legend Beverley Callard is reportedly heading on the reality show later this year after she quit the cobbles in 2019.
4 of 21Eric Cantona
ITV bosses apparently want to sign football legend Eric Cantona because of his 'bizarre comments'. Speaking to The Sun, show producer Richard Cowles admitted, "I just like the idea of Eric Cantona talking in French and coming up with really profound things. That would be good."
5 of 21Tommy Fury
There's been odds that Tommy Fury could be heading onto I'm A Celeb but we doubt it because he's training for boxing and it's well known that all the celeb lose a LOT of weight in the jungle.
6 of 21Lucy Fallon
She played Bethany Platt on Corrie but there's been speculation that we could be seeing Lucy Fallon on I'm A Celeb later this year.
7 of 21Jasmine Armfield
It's also been rumoured that Jasmine Armfield - aka EastEnders' Bex Fowler - could be going on the show. We wonder if she'll following in the footsteps as Jacqueline Jossa and become queen of the jungle...
8 of 21Paul Merson
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson could be heading on the ITV show after he opened up about struggling with gambling.
9 of 21Matt Baker
After quitting The One Show, there's been reports that Matt Baker could be going on I'm A Celeb. This is what we want to see tbh.
10 of 21Tamzin Outhwaite
Former EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite is rumoured to be going on the show later this year.
11 of 21AJ Pritchard
AJ Pritchard on I'm A Celeb? OK, this we've got to see. According to The Sun, the dancer is "keen to show people that there is a lot more to him" following his time on Strictly.
12 of 21Ben Shephard
Ben Shephard recently announced he's taking a break from Good Morning Britain which has led to rumours speculating that he could be heading for I'm A Celeb.
13 of 21Carole Baskin
Tiger King's Carole Baskin has apparently been offered 'big money' to star on I'm A Celeb. We would LOVE to see her doing Bushtucker trials but we doubt she'll want to eat any animals alive...
14 of 21Jenny Ryan
Following her jaw-dropping stint on The X Factor: Celebrity, The Chase quizzer Jenny Ryan (aka The Vixen) has dropped a HUGE hint she's taking part in I'm A Celeb after its new location was announced. Taking to Twitter, she wrote, "My main reservations about doing I'm A Celeb have always been 1. The Spiders 2. The Snakes 3. The Heat. This could be a big opportunity for ol' Jenny."
15 of 21Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls is the new bookies' favourite to join the cast of I'm A Celeb and we're sure his potential campmates would love it if he took part. The survival expert would be in his element on the show tbh.
16 of 21Martin Kemp
Martin Kemp, who first rose to fame in 80s band Spandau Ballet before starring in EastEnders, is reportedly in talks with I'm A Celeb bosses a year after his son Roman finished in third place behind soap stars Jacqueline Jossa and Andrew Whyment in the 2019 final.
17 of 21Lauren Simon
Real Housewives of Cheshire star Lauren Simon dropped a MAJOR hint she was headed for the castle with a very cryptic instagram post, but some thought it meant she was expecting...
18 of 21Rylan
Ok, so it wasn't exactly confirmation but everyone's favourite TV personality Rylan Clark-Neal didn't say he WASN'T up for it. Speaking to heat of the 2020 relocation, he said, "Well, I might do it now. "No, I'm totally joking. I've always said I'd never go on the show, because of the 24-hour flight, so now everyone is saying I can finally do it. "Abso-f-cking-lutely no way. Lording it up in a castle sounds lovely, but I know it won't be as easy as it sounds."Boo :(
19 of 21Mo Farah
Olympic champion runner Mo Farah has reportedly been snapped up by I'm A Celeb bosses as one of two last minute signings.
20 of 21Keith Duffy
The second last minute signing is believed to be Boyzone singer and former Coronation Street star Keith Duffy.
21 of 21Shane Richie
EastEnders icon Shane Richie - who played Alfie Moon in the BBC soap - is the latest TV star to reportedly sign up for the show. It's claimed he's heading into quarantine for the next two weeks before the launch show next month.
WATCH Georgia Toffolo reveals her time in the jungle was "AWFUL" | I’m a Celeb Secrets
Joel’s comments come just a week after it was revealed that the new I’m A Celeb set had been thrown into chaos after it flooded due to a spate of bad weather.
“The crew are working around the clock as it is. But because of the dreadful weather they spent much of the weekend trying to remove standing water from areas of the building. They’re now trying to work out a way to make sure that, if there’s bad weather when the show airs in November, it doesn’t affect filming.,” an insider told The Sun.
“The jungle set was fine when it rained as there was natural drainage and streams. But an ancient castle with no proper piping systems is a whole different story. It’s a very soggy headache at the moment.”
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The latest name to linked to I’m A Celeb is AJ Pritchard, who quit his role as a professional dancer on Strictly earlier this year.
“AJ is really excited – he can't wait to get going and for the show to start. It was always his aim to do more TV work after leaving Strictly and there's no bigger challenge than I'm A Celeb,” a source told MailOnline.
“He's an early riser, into his fitness and a dedicated person – he hopes being part of camp will give viewers the chance to get to know him better.
“The only downside is he won't be taking part with brother Curtis, who he's really enjoyed working with since lockdown.”