Celebrity

2 Soap Legends Have Joined The I’m A Celeb Lineup

Meanwhile Richard Madeley has left the camp after a trip to hospital.

by Alice Broster
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
'I'm A Celebrity' 2021
ITV

ITV’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here is finally back on the telly, and the drama and laughs are already flowing. Once again taking place in Wales due to ongoing travel restrictions, 10 celebrities have made their way into the castle, which include an Olympic gold medalist, some of the UK’s biggest TV presenters, and a Strictly Come Dancing legend.

After being split in two – one in the main camp and the other into The Clink – the celebs are finally together again and will soon be joined by two new campmates who just so happen to be soap royalty. And it seems they’ll be treated as such, as they are both officially the “Lords of the Castle” and will battle to feed their campmates in their first trial.

Following their dramatic entrance, it was revealed that Richard Madeley had been taken to hospital after falling ill, as BBC News reports. “Richard was unwell in the early hours and was immediately seen by our on-site medical team,” an ITV spokesperson said. “He’s since been taken to hospital as a precaution, the health and safety of our campmates is a priority.”

It was then confirmed that Madeley had been forced to leave the camp as his trip to hospital broke the show’s coronavirus bubble. In an Instagram post, the TV host wrote: “Richard here – firstly just to say that I’m absolutely FINE. I started to feel briefly unwell in the small hours of the morning and was taken to hospital as a precaution. By leaving the camp, I had consequently broken the Covid ‘bubble’ and as such I’ve had to leave the castle and all the wonderful celebs that remain in the camp.

“Obviously I’m gutted to be leaving so soon but the safety of all the campmates is the number one priority. I’m incredibly excited to watch their journey continue…even more so at the prospect of being somewhere a little warmer than Gwrych Castle.”

I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here returned to screens on November 21 at 9 p.m. The competition usually runs for around three weeks before a winner is crowned. As the camp will be filled with 12 new celebrities soon, The Daily Mail wrote that two large tents have been erected, potentially to provide more room during filming.

As we prepare for two more celebs to enter the camp, here are all the details about the contestants who have switched their cosy homes for Gwrych Castle.

Adam Woodyatt

ITV / I'm A Celeb

After 35 years as Ian Beale in EastEnders, Adam Woodyatt walked away from Albert Square after Sharon Mitchell poisoned Ian in the New Year. Prior to entering the castle, Woodyatt told the Mirror that he has “no plans” on returning to the soap in the near future. He’s also looking forward to fans seeing him in a different light. “How big a difference that side is yet to be seen!” he exclaimed, adding that “it will be nicer for people to see” him as himself rather than Ian Beale.

Woodyatt has potential to win the series, too. Over the course of I’m A Celeb’s run, three of his castmates have ended up taking the crown. So hopefully the luck of Joe Swash, Jacqueline Jossa, and Charlie Brooks rubs off on Woodyatt, too.

Simon Gregson

ITV / I'm A Celeb

Following the lead of his on-screen mum, Simon Gregson is repping Coronation Street this year after Beverly Callard’s appearance in 2020. Gregson and Callard aren’t the only Corrie stars that have appeared on the show – fans will definitely remember the drama that Nigel Havers brought to camp during his turn on the show in 2010, which resulted in an early departure from the actor.

Hopefully Gregson does his kids proud for his turn on the show, as his appearance was all their idea. “They were just like ‘come on dad, we’d love it,” he said. “So I just said ‘ok anything for you guys’.”

Frankie Bridge

Former Saturdays singer and current Loose Women panellist Frankie Bridge swapped the warmth of the ITV studios for the castle in Wales, arriving alongside breakfast telly legend Richard Madeley. Her husband, former England footballer Wayne Bridge, was on the show in 2016 and finished in fifth place. She may also do a lot better than her husband who came fifth. Ladbrokes has said she’s the front runner to win with odds at 4/1.

Louise Minchin

Louise Minchin shocked BBC Breakfast viewers in Sept. 2020 when she announced that she’d be leaving the show after 20 years. It’s since been reported that she’ll be publishing a book with Bloomsbury Sport in which she’ll be “taking on some of the toughest challenges in sport.” Alongside exploring her new ventures, Minchin entered the castle as part of the I’m A Celebrity 2021 cohort.

Richard Madeley

Minchin isn’t the only veteran presenter who will be trying their luck in the bushtucker trials this year. According to The Sun, the Good Morning Britain presenter has signed a £200,000 deal to be part of I’m A Celebrity in 2021. Having already appeared on the show’s ITV 2 spin-off, Extra Camp, Madeley has made it very clear that he’s a big fan.

Snoochie Shy

Radio 1 Xtra DJ Snoochie Shy is another presenter has taken a step back from their day job to touch it out in Gwrych Castle. Snoochie AKA Cheyenne Davide has been with 1Xtra for three years and will likely be wanting to channel some of fellow Radio 1 hosts Jordan North’s luck as he was the runner-up in the 2020 show. She’s known for serving some serious looks on her Instagram and will likely bring another level of glam to the camp.

Arlene Philips

You’ll likely recognise Arlene Philips as one of the original judges on Strictly Come Dancing. The ballroom pro will be hanging up her glitzy dresses and heels for walking boots and a fleece as she’s another celebrity who has entered the castle.

Matty Lee

Matty Lee hit headlines around the globe this summer when he won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics alongside his diving partner Tom Daly. He’s absolutely no stranger to pressure but something tells me that nothing can quite prepare you for diving into a tub of snakes and spiders.

Kadeena Cox

Kadeena Cox is a cyclist and track and field athlete. She’s competed in the Northern Athletics Championships, Paralympics, and IPC Athletics World Championships. The seriously decorated athlete has already got telly experience having appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox and Celebrity Great British Bake Off. In 2021 she was crowned the winner of Celebrity MasterChef. So it looks like she’ll be head chef in camp.

David Ginola

David Ginola is a former professional footballer. He follows the likes of John Fashanu and Ian Wright as another football star who is hoping that his skills on the pitch will translate to camp life in Wales. Before he retired in 2002 he played for Newcastle, Tottenham, and Everton. In 2016 he played in a charity football match when he suffered a cardiac arrest and was “clinically dead” for eight minutes before he received surgical attention.

Danny Miller

Danny Miller is swapping the set of Emmerdale for the castle. He played Aaron Dingle periodically for over a decade. He became a father for the first time on Oct. 25 of this year and speaking to OK after the birth of Albert he said, “I was in bits. I was very emotional. It’s made me much more in love with Steph, too. I was absolutely in awe of her and we’re absolutely in awe of him.” He’ll have them cheering him on at home.

Naughty Boy

The final celebrity that is entering the castle for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here 2021 is music producer Naughty Boy. According to The Sun, Naughty Boy AKA Shahid Khan was supposed to be on the show in 2020 but dropped out. Having worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry – including Beyoncé – it’s unlikely that Naughty Boy will be starstruck during his time on the show.

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