I’m A Celeb’s Tulisa & GK Barry set to face ‘more blood-sucking critters in camp than in trials’ due to horror storm
I’M A Celeb bosses fear a terrifying invasion of poisonous snakes, blood-sucking leeches and ticks in camp sparked by a deluge of rain.
They reckon this week could be a washout at the Aussie site and are worried it will be turned into a bog by constant showers.
The woeful weather means stars like N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos, podcaster GK Barry and Wag Coleen Rooney could even face more critters at base than during any of the trials producers have lined up.
Tick bites cause serious swelling on the body and can transmit Lyme disease, which can cause brain and heart problems if left untreated.
They thrive in damp conditions – as do snakes and leeches, which stick to the skin and suck out blood.
On Sunday’s opening show, Dancing On Ice judge Oti Mabuse, 34, got a shock when she spotted a tick on some equipment in camp.
The downpour is forecast everyday until Saturday in Dungay, New South Wales.
A source said: “The camp is set to take a pounding over the next few days.
“It will certainly bring the celebs crashing down to earth when they realise just how tough jungle life can be when the elements are against you.
“The conditions forecast this week are perfect for nasty little creatures to gather and the celebs will have to be on constant lookout.
“As always though, health and safety is the number one priority for bosses – so medics will be on hand if any issues do arise.”
Former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson, 32, had a close call with a deadly snake while he was asleep during last year’s series.
The cryptophis nigrescens slithered by him as he snoozed in his hammock and had to be grabbed by a handler.
In 2016 – when actor Larry Lamb and retired footballer Wayne Bridge were among the campmates – bosses discovered eight funnel web spiders, whose bites can kill humans within 15 minutes.
Jungle King Sam, who is hosting the ITV2 spin-off Unpacked, also got a leech stuck to his backside during last year’s series.
He told The Sun: “The leeches, they’ll get you. I’d never even seen a leech before I came and did this show.
“Everyone always goes, ‘Ah, there are actually like critters out there and stuff’… they are everywhere, especially when it’s wet.
“When it’s wet, they come out to play.
“They’ll climb up your leg and then, this is terrifying, they can get through clothes.
“It will get through your shorts – they can go through the fibres, into your skin, you don’t know they’re there, and the only way you find out you’ve got one is because it starts itching because they’ve fallen off.”
Sam added: “It was like a murder site – blood everywhere. What they do is, they release toxin which allows them to suck the blood easier, so it makes your blood really thin so it doesn’t scab up.
“You just bleed and bleed and bleed. I woke up and went, ‘Oh my God, what’s happened?!’.”
Bosses warn the celebs to check themselves carefully for ticks and leeches every day when washing.
Speaking about the need for celebs to check for things like ticks while showering, executive producer Olly Nash said: “Most people wear swimmers. Most people face the wall anyway.
“You need to, obviously, clean and check yourself.
“So at some point every day you need to properly check yourself to check because ticks love warm, sweaty areas.
“So you need to be checked at some point. You obviously need to check yourself out.
“You don’t need to be checked. You can do that in the privacy of the dunny, you can do that in the shower, you could do that wrapped up in your swag.”
Viewing figures for Sunday’s series opener peaked at 7.7million – slightly down on last year’s launch show which saw 7.8million tune in.
I'm A Celebrity 2024
By Jake Penkethman
As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle.
The Sun’s Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year…
Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will be making a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to head into the camp this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
Tulisa – The popstar and former X Factor judge looks set to be making a triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year’s I’m A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
Alan Halsall – The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities when he gets into camp.
Melvin Odoom – The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet – the Aussie jungle.
GK Barry – The UK’s biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brand such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
Dean McCullough – A rising star amongst this year’s bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
Oti Mabuse – The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She origianlly found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Danny Jones – The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he’s now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom. A jungle insider said: “As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he’ll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home.”
Maura Higgins – The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge – having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane’s first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
Barry McGuigan – Former pro boxer Barry will become the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to breast cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: “She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache.”
Rev. Richard Coles – Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is set for I’m A Celebrity — and is ready to let rip at his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year.An insider said: “Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth.”