Bear Grylls believes this year’s ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!’ contestants are in for a tough time in the UK.
The survival guru believes this year’s contestants will find it tricky to tackle the cold climate in North Wales – after the show was relocated from sunny Australia – and they will be shocked at how "brutal" the weather is while staying at Gwrych Castle.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column, he warned: "The bad weather in Wales will be brutal. Contestants should not underestimate it. You get persistent wind and rain and that makes people cold fast."
Instead of jetting Down Under, the stars and presenters Ant and Dec will be heading to the castle ruin – near the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – after the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the reality programme from being filmed out in New South Wales.
A source said: "Ant and Dec and the same production team are all on board and everyone is 110 per cent dedicated to making this series as brilliant as all the others."
Thanks to the move, friends and families are now able to visit the set to show their support for their loved ones when they exit the series.
ITV bosses had put a ban on friends and family travelling to Australia due to the pandemic, but that now "no longer makes sense".
A source explained: "With the show moving to Wales, the ban no longer made sense. Not only is it cheaper to get friends and family there, but they won’t have to quarantine or comply with Australia’s strict coronavirus restrictions."
However, it is thought the fact that they won’t be able to fly off to sunny Australia and will have to film in wintery conditions in Wales, may put some stars off.
A source added: "Let’s be honest – going to Australia, taking the family and staying at the five-star Versace hotel is a pretty appealing proposition.
"The reality is Wales in November isn’t going to have anything like the same sort of draw.
"So it might well come down to cash deals on offer to stop people saying they’d rather not bother this year.
"Hopefully the extra budget will help make it a bumper year – and it’s also about getting the right mix, not just the biggest names."