I'm A Celebrity to return to Australia after two years in Wales due to Covid-19

The ITV reality show was forced to move to Gwrych Castle, Abergele in North Wales for series 20 and 21 due to Covid restrictions but is set to return to its usual home in the Australian jungle this November.

“We expect a celebrity to return in Australia in November, when it will generate an audience of over 11 million,” said Rosemary Newell, Director of Content at ITV.

Presenters Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly previously said that they would love to see the show return to Australia after two years in Wales.

In an appearance on The One Show earlier this year, Ant said: “Well, the plan is the jungle, so if all things -” before being interrupted by Dec, who added: “Nothing against Wales!”

Ant agreed: “We love Wales but you know, Australia is its home and we’d like to get back there if we can.

Dec said: “That’s what we’re hoping, touch wood.”

Dec also admitted that filming I’m A Celebrity in Wales “wasn’t quite the same” as the exciting backdrop of Australia.

“It wasn’t quite the same, but we had a great time in North Wales. They made us feel so welcome. I’m A Celebrity’s spiritual home is Australia,” he said in a recent TV appearance.

“We can torment them a bit more in Australia as well.”

Author Giovanna Fletcher was crowned Queen of the Castle in the first series of I’m A Celebrity to take place in Wales, while Emmerdale star Danny Miller took the crown in 2021.

But the show faced its fair share of difficulties last year when ITV bosses were forced to take the programme off the air due to damage caused by Storm Arwen.

High winds caused by the storm caused damage to production equipment near the castle, making it impossible for crew to broadcast the live episodes.

The celebrities, production team, and security staff were forced to leave the castle for safety reasons until the storm blew over.