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Preparations for the upcoming series of I’m A Celebrity were well on the way on as work continued on the derelict Welsh castle Gwrych Castle on Monday.
The Grade I listed 19th-century country house, located near Abergele in picturesque Conwy County, north Wales, will play host to the long-running ITV show for the second consecutive year due to travel restrictions surrounding its usual home on Australia’s east coast, currently in the midst of another coronavirus lockdown.
And in stunning aerial images and footage, ITV staff could be descending on the crumbling ruins of the castle as they prepared to get it ready for its celebrity inhabitants in time for the news series in November.
Getting ready: Preparations for the upcoming series of I’m A Celebrity were well on the way on as work continued on the derelict Welsh castle Gwrych Castle on Monday
Unseen footage of the set sees workers in high-vis jackets milling around the castle, while several cars and trucks are seen parked within the grounds.
The vehicles are piled high with scaffolding and other building equipment as builders readied the ancient castle to be fit for the celebrity contestants and the numerous castle trials they’ll face.
Meanwhile, a large black structure in seen to one side of the castle, while a huge white tent is erected on the other.
The sprawling gazebo is thought to house the staff canteen and the show’s production units.
Location: The Grade I listed 19th-century country house, located near Abergele in Conwy County, north Wales, will play host to the long-running ITV show for the second consecutive year
Elsewhere, blue tarpaulin sheets are seen covering various structure’s throughout Gwrych Castle’s many rooms, no doubt to protect the historic abode from the harsh Welsh weather.
The aerial images show a hum of activity in and surrounding the castle as the team rush to transform the place into a medieval campsite for this year’s celeb campers.
Stars thought to be setting foot in the castle amid its second consecutive year of hosting the series include Love Island favourite Liberty Poole, former EastEnders actor Jake Wood, choreographer Arlene Phillips and ex-BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin.
Hosts: Ant and Dec are set to front the show again in November. which has been relocated to Gwrych Castle for the second consecutive year
Work begins: in stunning aerial images and footage, ITV staff could be descending on the crumbling ruins of the castle as they prepared to get it ready for its celebrity inhabitants in time for the news series in November
Hard at work: Unseen footage of the set sees workers in high-vis jackets milling around the castle, while several cars and trucks are seen parked within the grounds
Prep: The vehicles are piled high with scaffolding and other building equipment as builders readied the ancient castle to be fit for the celebrity contestants and the numerous castle trials they’ll face
While other famous names reported to be in the running are Gogglebox’s Tom Malone Jr, Line Of Duty star Vicky McClure, Chaser Jenny Ryan, ex-Corrie star Lucy Fallon and Katie Price’s ex-husband Kieran Hayler.
ITV bosses are facing a scramble against time to renovate the dilapidated building – which is now closed to the public – and its surrounding areas ahead of the new series expected to begin in November.
The reality show, which usually films in the Australian wilderness, was forced to relocate to the dilapidated castle following fears Australia could shut its borders because of the ongoing pandemic.
ITV producers have since filed an extensive planning application to the authorities in order to make the country house inhabitable in time for the new series.
Busy time: ITV execs are scrambling to get the castle ready i time for the show’s November launch
Structures: Meanwhile, a large black structure in seen to one side of the castle, while a huge white tent is erected on the other
Important: The sprawling gazebo is thought to house the staff canteen and the show’s production units
According to reports in The Sun last month, ITV plans to splurge millions on repair works in the castle over three or four months ahead of the show filming in the coming months.
An inside source told the paper of the essential renovation: ‘When it was first announced that I’m A Celebrity was going to be staged in Gwrych Castle the team did a miraculous job of ensuring the building was safe and usable for filming.
‘But these new renovations will ramp up the facilities and provide basic amenities which they had to do without in 2020 due to the speed at which they had to make the shift.’
The listed property suffered at the hands of freak flash flooding last year that left exposed areas deluged and some rooms without roofs.
Meanwhile, it’s been reported that I’m A Celebrity bosses are already in talks to secure Gwrych Castle for a third year running due to fears of the coronavirus plunging the hit series into doubt.
Despite hopes that this year’s instalment would see the contestants taking to the much-loved Aussie jungle, bosses were forced to abort plans yet again.
Protection: Elsewhere, blue tarpaulin sheets are seen covering various structure’s throughout Gwrych Castle’s many rooms, no doubt to protect the historic abode from the harsh Welsh weather
Construction: The aerial images show a hum of activity in and surrounding the castle as the team rush to transform the place into a medieval campsite for this year’s celeb campers
Now, it seems the country’s lockdown hell may force fans to accept a third year of fun-and-games from the wintery Welsh set.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘This time last year, the prospect of I’m A Celebrity not returning to Australia and having to return to the castle seemed slim.
‘Now the show is going back to Gwrych after ITV had the foresight to reserve is for a second series – and they want to make sure they’re equally prepared for the worst in 2022.
‘Going back to Oz is still the goal. But this is about bosses taking every step possible to ensure Britain’s favourite TV show stays on our screens. So they’re likely to approach the castle owners imminently.’
Change of plan: The reality show, which usually films in the Australian wilderness, was forced to relocate to the dilapidated castle following fears Australia could shut its borders because of the ongoing pandemic
Formerly the country retreat of aristocrat Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh, the castle was saved from disrepair by Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust in 2018.
The castle is said to be haunted by the Countess of Dundonald who owned the building until her death in 1926.
Known as The Woman in White, she is said to have been angry at her husband for stripping the castle of valuables and selling them. A ghostly white figure has been seen at the windows.
The last series of I’m A Celeb, won by Giovanna Fletcher, 35, was a ratings hit as it got 14.3 million viewers. It ended up being the second most watched series in the history of the show, which started in 2002.
Stunning: Formerly the country retreat of aristocrat Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh, the castle was saved from disrepair by Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust in 2018
Back then: Last year’s series – won by Giovanna Fletcher (pictured in 2020) in the backdrop of the country’s Gwrych Castle – was a roaring success despite its move from the jungle amid restrictions in place from the coronavirus pandemic
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