Noel Edmonds becomes HIGHEST paid contestant to join the I’m A Celebrity 2018 line-up with £600,000 fee

TV legend Noel Edmonds has secured I’m A Celebrity’s biggest ever payday by bagging a massive £600,000 fee.

The Deal or No Deal host, who The Sun yesterday revealed would be this year’s late arrival on the ITV show, is being paid around £100,000 more than football manager Harry Redknapp, 71, who is this year’s second highest earner.

Noel, 69, is this year’s 11th and final contestant to take part in the hit show, with bosses reducing the total number for the first time in 11 years.

An ITV source said: “Bosses for I’m A Celebrity have been trying to sign Noel for years. He’s their dream signing.

“They have really pushed the boat out this year in terms of signings and have spent more than ever before. Harry and Noel are over £1million between the two of them, and they’ve spent good money on the likes of Nick Knowles and Rita Simons too. The bookers have been earning and spending their cash well this year.

“They’ve spent so much that there’s only 11 contestants planned at the moment. That’s the first time since 2007 it’s been so few, but the characters will make up for it.”

The Noel’s House Party host has told pals he only agreed to sign up for the gruelling series to publicly open up about his suicide attempt ahead of his multi-million pound court battle with banking giant Lloyds.

He is suing the bank for fraud at a HBOS branch that he claims led to the collapse of his entertainment company Unique Group a decade ago.

The scandal, which affected 60 small business owners, is looking to recover the costs of the firm’s demise, as well as compensation for the distress and humiliation he says he has suffered.

A pal added: “He’s been to hell and back over the last few years. He’s lost a lot of weight and looks very different. He came really close the edge and wants to tell everyone on the biggest stage on TV just how much he’s been through.”

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Noel will arrive late into the camp, in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia.

He will join the likes of X Factor singer Fleur East, 31, Eastenders star Rita, 41, and quiz boffin Anne Hegerty, 60.

The series, now in its 18th year, starts on Sunday.

Who has won I’m a Celebrity in previous years?

The show has seen many famous faces, but only a select few have taken the title of Jungle King or Queen:

• 2017 – Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo
• 2016 – Scarlett Moffatt
• 2015 – Vicky Pattison
• 2014 – Carl Fogarty
• 2013 – Kian Egan
• 2012 – Charlie Brooks
• 2011 – Dougie Poynter
• 2010 – Stacey Solomon
• 2009 – Gino D’Acampo
• 2008 – Joe Swash
• 2007 – Christopher Biggins
• 2006 – Matt Willis
• 2005 – Carol Thatcher
• 2004 – Joe Pasquale
• 2004 (first series) – Kerry Katona
• 2003 – Phil Tufnell
• 2002 – Tony Blackburn