DIY SOS host Nick Knowles signs up for this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The TV presenter, 56, is one of the first to agree to take part in the show, which insiders say is one of their most expensive series ever
DIY SOS host Nick Knowles has signed up for this year’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, The Sun can reveal.
The TV presenter, 56, is one of the first to agree to take part in the show, which insiders say is one of their most expensive series ever.
It’s the first ever run of the show without host Ant McPartlin, 42, who is being replaced by This Morning’s Holly Willoughby, 37, while he continues his recovery from drink and drug addiction.
And as a result of his absence producers are spending more than normal on the line-up in a bid to top rival show Strictly Come Dancing and ensure ratings do not slide.
Bosses hope that twice-married dad-of-four Nick will offer great anecdotes about Prince William, 36, and Harry, 34, having grown close to them through their work on charity specials of BBC series DIY SOS.
An ITV source said: “Jungle bosses are delighted they’ve managed to convince Nick to take part.
Love I'm A Celeb? Be the first to play our new game The Jungle - win daily prizes and a holiday worth £5K
“They think he’ll be a great campmate and will be full of stories about his famous pals, including the princes.
"He’s a really well-connected bloke.
“It’ll earn him a tidy sum for his time in Australia.
"Producers have been given slightly more to play with this year than normal.
"And this is a signing of intent to show other shows, such as Strictly, that even without Ant the show will still be strong.”
The Sun revealed in August how Ant’s close pal Holly would be fronting the show with his best mate Declan Donnelly, also 42, while he takes a self-imposed year off work.
MOST READ IN TV
Ant, who is going through a divorce from wife Lisa Armstrong, 41, has also agreed to postpone next year’s Saturday Night Takeaway until 2020.
The hugely popular TV star has been undergoing rehab treatment since March after a relapse into alcohol addiction which saw him convicted of drink driving.
An ITV spokesman refused to confirm the show’s line-up.
Welcome to The Jungle 🐍🌴
Are you an I'm A Celeb super-fan?
Then you'll love our free-to-play game: The Jungle
- Win Amazon vouchers EVERY DAY
- £5k holiday up for grabs
- Mini-games to give you an extra fix of the show