Inside Olivia Attwood’s VIP treatment by I’m A Celeb bosses and her future on ITV
I’M A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here star Olivia Atwood was given VIP treatment after she left the jungle on Monday.
TV executives treated the reality star – who rose to fame on Love Island in 2017 – to top treatment after she was forced to quit the show on medical grounds after just 24 hours.
Olivia, 31, was left heartbroken when she was pulled from camp due to a “medical drama” earlier this week, and refused re-entry into the jungle by medics.
However, to keep her sweet, ITV bosses are said to have pulled out all the stops to comfort her and assure her she’s still their big talent.
A source close to Olivia’s family told The Sun that I’m A Celeb execs said they would “do whatever it takes” to look after the Love Island favourite, including flying her home in first class.
“She has been given major VIP treatment from ITV, including flying her home first class, whisking her out of London Heathrow through the private Windsor Suite to a 5-star hotel to have talks with her team,” the insider revealed.
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“Staff have been in floods of tears in Oz as they were so desperate to keep her and are devastated she’s gone.
“They know she was the shining star of camp and it’s uncomfortable that fans are calling for her return.”
The source also revealed that I’m A Celebrity bosses have been left in “talks” over whether to replace Olivia in this year’s line-up.
Fans have been calling for a “big female signing” to fill the gap in the camp after Olivia’s departure from the show in last night’s episode.
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“They are in talks over what to do with the camp now as it feels lacklustre,” the insider added.
“They have huge plans for her in 2023 and don’t want to lose her to the BBC who have swooped in with presenting opps. Bosses will do anything to stop her taking projects elsewhere.”
Despite Olivia’s departure, the new series of I’m A Celebrity has been a big hit with fans – with the show pulling in 10million viewers.
The long-running ITV series graced our screens for the first episode of the year on Sunday, and proved its more popular with fans than ever thanks to its mammoth viewership.
The series eagerly-awaited return to Australia after two years in Wales drew an impressive peak audience of 10.3 million.
It comes after Olivia was forced to quit her time on I’m A Celeb after just 24 hours following a “medical drama” in camp yesterday.
A show insider said: “Olivia was involved in a medical drama overnight. She really wanted to go back into the camp but medics won’t let her.”
The exact reason for Olivia’s show departure remains unknown.
Yesterday, the medical team ruled it was “not safe” for Olivia to return to camp – but in a cryptic message her rep said: “You will hear the truth from her in due course.”
Writing on Olivia’s Instagram story, a “Team Liv” spokesman wrote: “To say Olivia is heartbroken would be an understatement.
“She dreamed of doing I’m A Celebrity for years, and was absolutely loving every second of the show and throwing herself into jungle life feet first (just as we knew she would).
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“However, for reasons beyond her control her journey has been cut short. Your support and kind words have meant the absolute world to her, now as much as it always has.
“You will hear the truth from Olivia in due course and she will be back on your screens in the New Year.”