I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here 2020 is moving to a castle in the UK due to Australia coronavirus lockdown

I’M A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! is moving to the UK for the 2020 series, The Sun can reveal.

ITV producers took the decision after lockdown restrictions in Australia made planning the usual show impossible, with borders in the country shut down.

The 2020 series, which will air in November, will now be aired from a remote rural castle in Britain as opposed to the traditional jungle in Murwillumbah, New South Wales.

Ant and Dec, who are celebrating 20 years at the helm of the hit entertainment series, will return to host as normal.

As in the previous series, viewers will see the celebrities undertake gruelling trials and fun-filled challenges to win food and treats in the lead up to one of them being crowned, for the first time ever, King or Queen of the Castle.

A jungle source said: “Planning the jungle - as with most other shows - has been very difficult as producers navigate a dynamic and fast changing situation. 

“What is OK one day, is impossible the next. The team have had many many different contingency plans in play to deal with all the various possibilities that COVID-19 has presented.

“However as time went on, it has become increasingly obvious that as one problem is solved, another appeared and there came a point where producers have to make tough decisions.”

On Sunday Victoria declared 'a state of disaster' and a new tougher lockdown after earlier measures failed to reduce cases,while Melbourne has a night time curfew.

One problem producers faced is that many of the crew stay in Coolangatta, Queensland, while the show is filming on a disused banana plantation in bordering station New South Wales.

The source added: “Queensland has shut their border with NSW.

“This causes significant problems because the production straddles the two states and clearly there is no guarantee, and we wouldn't expect on,  that this would be rectified.

"Even if it was, the Australian Authorities could quite rightly reimpose it at any time.

“Starting a show and not being able to finish it would be a nightmare. 

“Some of the airlines that we use have stopped flying to Brisbane during September.

"Even if this is rectified by later in the autumn, flights as we know are all subject to change which makes it extremely difficult for us to plan.

"We looked at reducing crew in Australia but IAC is a big production which inevitably requires people to travel.

“Producers have had to make this tough decision now to give them enough time to prepare for the UK version - which promises to be as much fun, if not colder, than its Australian counterpart. 

“Ant and Dec and the same production team are all on board - and everyone is 110% dedicated to making this series as brilliant as all the others.”

Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Director of Television explained: “We announced last week that we were doing all we could to make the series and I’m thrilled that we can bring the show to viewers, albeit not in the jungle.

"We have a great team both on and off screen and I know they will produce a hugely entertaining series”. 

Richard Cowles, Director of Entertainment at ITV Studios added: “We pulled out all the stops to try and make the series happen in Australia.

"Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and despite us looking at many different contingencies, it became apparent that it just wasn’t possible for us to travel and make the show there.

"However, we are all really excited about a UK version of I’m A Celebrity.

"While it will certainly be different producing the show from the UK, the same tone and feel will remain."