Keith Duffy is reportedly in talks to join this years’ I’m A Celebrity: Get Me Out Of Here!
The Boyzone star was invited to the join the hit reality show earlier this year, but turned down the offer due to his touring commitments with his Boyzlife partner Brian McFadden.
As the tour has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, producers are said to be keen to get Keith on the show – which will be set in a castle in Wales this year rather than the Australian jungle.
“Keith would make for a brilliant campmate with his celebrity tales and his can-do attitude,” a source told The Sun.
“He’s been approached before but the timing has never been right. Everyone hopes that he might take a chance this time around.”
The insider added that the “team are confident they sold it well” following a reported Zoom call between Keith and the reality show’s booker.
ITV are reportedly spending almost £1million on taking over the venue the eerie Gwrych Castle for six weeks, to prepare it for the upcoming series – which will see celebs battle it out for the title of King or Queen of the Castle – rather than the jungle.
According to reports, the 200-year-old castle is haunted by the Countess of Dundonald, who died back in 1924.
The ruins are regularly visited by ghost hunters, who believe the property is haunted by multiple spirits.
A castle worker told The Sun: “A few people have claimed to have seen a floating woman in white. Ghost-hunters have also claimed to have felt the presence of her and gamekeepers.”
“We think the Countess might be unhappy as her husband stripped the castle of valuables. They certainly didn’t have a happy marriage.”
The show’s new location will also inspire a host of new and exciting trials for this year’s contestants.
A source said: “Just because it’s in the UK, it doesn’t mean that celebrities can breathe a sigh of relief and think they are free of snakes, rats and frogs.”
“There are lots of plans to terrify them with some tried and tested methods. There will definitely be tasks where the stars have to eat unappetising things and put creatures in their mouths like previous years.”
“They’re determined to make the trials as exciting and nail-biting as possible. Not only will there be creepy crawlies galore, but now they have the added aid of playing with a haunted castle. They think it will make for brilliant TV.”
Producers are said to be “chuffed” with the new location, and it’s understood the entire crew will self-isolate on site for the three weeks of filming.
The series is expected to begin sometime in November, and a host of well-known faces have already been tipped to appear on the show – including Strictly pro-dancer AJ Pritchard, former England footballer John Barnes, Coronation Street star Lucy Fallon, and TV presenter Vernon Kay.
Meanwhile Carole Baskin denied rumours that she would be starring in this year’s season, telling The Sun: “The show has been criticized by animal lovers for the consumption of live creatures, and no amount of money would make me want to be part of something that disrespects nature that way.”
The show is set to return in November.
