Noel Edmonds will be the ONLY late entrant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2018 after bosses blew the budget to book him, a report claims.
Normally, the ITV survival contest welcomes two or three extra contestants a few days in to each run.
This year is likely to follow suit, with Noel heavily rumoured to be arriving in the jungle later this week.
Unusually, however, it seems he won’t be bringing anyone else with him.
Reports suggest Noel has bagged a £600,000 fee for his involvement, making him the highest-paid contestant ever.
According to The Sun, producers have spent so much money on the former Deal Or No Deal presenter that they’ve ditched plans to add a second latecomer.
It comes after ITV broke the bank to secure one of the most expensive I’m A Celeb line-ups ever.
“Bosses for I’m A Celebrity spent so much on signing Noel for the show that there’s only 11 contestants planned this year,” the newspaper’s source said.
“They have really pushed the boat out and splashed the cash more than ever before – meaning a change to the format had to be made.
“Harry Redknapp and Noel cost over £1million between the two of them. They’ve spent good money on the likes of Nick Knowles and Rita Simons too.”
If this proves true, I’m A Celebrity’s new series will be the first since 2007 to feature just eleven campmates.
It also means ITV can squeeze extra value out of their big-name signings by delaying eliminations an extra day.
Some of the most entertaining stars of recent series, including Martin Roberts and Iain Lee, were late entrants.
Vicky Pattison even became the second late entrant to win when viewers voted her Queen of the Jungle in 2015.
Chiefs are yet to confirm if or when Noel will be making his way in to the Australian outback.
I’m A Celebrity 2018 airs nightly at 9.00pm on ITV, presented by Dec Donnelly and Holly Willoughby.
Spin-off show Extra Camp immediately follows the main show on ITV2.
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