RTE is too skint to get Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts to replace Jamelia on the Voice of Ireland.
Now it has emerged that Voice bosses contacted I’m A Celebrity star Ashley in a bid to bring her onto the new series.
Quit: Jamelia and Dolores have left the RTE show | RTE
However after contacting the American beauty’s agent, they discovered they simply couldn’t afford her.
It had been hoped to use her to brighten up the show like bandmate Nicole Scherzinger when she arrived on the X Factor.
“Ashley is what’s known as a ‘triple threat’ because just like Nicole she can sing, dance and act,” a source told the Herald.
“She’s also drop-dead gorgeous with a really bubbly, outgoing personality.
Tipped: Una Foden is now being hunted for RTE series | VIPIRELAND.COM
“But when you’re dealing with stars in the UK, it’s a whole other ball game in terms of the kind of huge fees they can command. RTE just couldn’t afford her, plain and simple.”
Only Bressie and Kian Egan have signed deals to return to the RTE show – after Dolores O’Riordan also walked out.
Bosses are rumoured to be talking to The Saturday’s star Una Foden for the show, which begins filming next January.