I’m A Celeb: Shane Richie confesses he’s thankful to be doing the show after being left ‘skint’
‘My wife is happy we can finally pay off the credit card’: I’m A Celeb 2020 campmate Shane Richie confesses he’s thankful to be doing the show after being left ‘skint’
He’s one of the big names who have signed up for the new series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.
And Shane Richie, 56, has confessed he’s thankful for the three weeks of work after the coronavirus pandemic left him with months of cancelled jobs.
Speaking as the cast of the 2020 series was confirmed on Sunday, the EastEnders star revealed he signed up in January when the show was still set to be filmed in its traditional location of Australia.
Skint: Shane Richie has confessed he’s thankful for the three weeks of work on I’m A Celeb 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic left him with months of cancelled work
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year’s series, the 20th of the ITV show, is shooting at a derelict castle in Wales.
‘We got the call in January and I agreed to do it because it was the 20th one,’ Shane explained.
‘My kids were old enough to travel to Australia and they wanted to meet Ant and Dec! We were all really excited.’
‘We were going to fit it around my other work projects as I was going on tour, doing a TV series and panto but that all got cancelled in March’.
Soap star: The EastEnders star revealed he signed up in January when the show was still set to be filmed in its traditional location of Australia
Star-studded: Shane joins the likes of Sir Mo Farah, Beverley Callard and Vernon Kay on the new series of the ITV show, which kicks off on November 15
Shane went on to detail his money troubles, explaining: ‘And now I am literally skint! You save money for a rainy day but you don’t expect the rainy day to last six months. Thankfully I’ve been able to borrow money from mates, my family and the bank and my wife is now very happy we can finally pay off the credit card!
‘But what an honour to be asked before lockdown. I am so grateful and I am really looking forward to being around adults again instead of my wife and three children!’
Asked how he would feel if the show led to other TV opportunities the honest star declared: ‘I do feel like I have come home.’
‘Everyone thinks of me as a BBC person but I am ITV. I was Mr Saturday night. Yeah I would love to do more entertainment shows again. If they said ‘let’s give Shanie a show,’ wouldn’t that be lovely?’
Out of work: Shane has detailed his money troubles, explaining: ‘And now I am literally skint! You save money for a rainy day but you don’t expect the rainy day to last six months
The full cast of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2020 has finally been unveiled, with stars such as Sir Mo Farah, ‘COVID-positive’ AJ Pritchard and Beverley Callard teaming up for their first official portraits.
Hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the ITV programme, which will be returning for its 20th series from November 15, has seen the show relocate from the jungles of Australia to North Wales’ Gwrych Castle due to travel concerns sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also competing for the title of King or Queen of the Jungle will be Vernon Kay, 46; Jessica Plummer, 28; Victoria Derbyshire, 52; Giovanna Fletcher, 35; Hollie Arnold, 26, and Jordan North, 30.
I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE! 2020: Who are the celebrities?
Name: SIR MO FARAH CBE
Age: 37
Claim to fame: The most successful British track athlete in Olympic Games history
Phobias: Any animal that moves
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: It will be nice for people to see me doing something other than running
Role in the camp: Cook
Miss most: Coffee, my wife and children
Dream campmate: Samuel L Jackson would be pretty cool
Relationship status: Married
Name: SHANE RITCHIE
Age: 56
Phobias: Human faeces. If I see one, it is over! I am hoping the camp toilet will be enclosed
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: Nothing. I don’t think I am that interesting
Role in the camp: Person who will muck in with anything
Miss most: My family and routine at home
Dream campmate: Eric Cantona, any 80s’ pop star or The Roc
Relationship status: Married
Name: BEVERLEY CALLARD
Age: 63
Claim to fame: Corrie legend
Phobias: Ghosts and insects
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: People think I am glamorous as I have played Liz for so long but I am not
Role in the camp: Cleaner
Miss most: Dogs and my husband, Jon
Dream campmate: Ricky Gervais – he would keep us all going
Relationship status: Married
Name: AJ PRITCHARD
Age: 26
Claim to fame: Former Strictly professional
Phobias: Heights, claustrophobia
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: People see me with sparkles and fake tan but nobody knows what I am like
Role in the camp: Keeping spirits up and the cleaner
Miss most: My warm and comfy bed
Dream campmate: Any celebrity with an intriguing background
Relationship status: Dating
Name: VERNON KAY
Age: 46
Claim to fame: TV and radio presenter
Phobias: I don’t like being confined underwater!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I think I have always been the same throughout my career – so I don’t have any.
Role in the camp: Person to keep spirits up.
Miss most: My family.
Dream camper: Anybody who has won the Super Bowl!
Relationship status: Married.
Name: VICTORIA DERBYSHIRE
Age: 52
Claim to fame: Award-winning journalist
Phobias: I am not a fan of spiders or confined spaces and I don’t know what I am going to be like when I get there!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I don’t think I have any as people just know me as the news and current affairs person!
Role in the camp: Shoulder to cry on.
Miss most: My boys, husband, dog and Mum.
Dream campmate: Madonna, Gary Lineker and Jamie Oliver to cook for us. I think you could have some really geeky chats with them!
Relationship status: Married.
Name: GIOVANNA FLETCHER
Age: 35
Claim to fame: Author and podcaster
Phobias: Heights. My legs go wobbly and you can’t rationalise it
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I am not that controversial so nothing
Role in the camp: Mum, friend and the giver of hugs
Miss most: My husband, Tom, and my three children
Dream campmate: The Queen, Judi Dench and Ant Middleton so he can help us with all the survival skills
Relationship status: Married
Name: JESSICA PLUMMER
Age: 28
Claim to fame: Former EastEnders actress
Phobias: Arachnophobia, fear of heights –just about every phobia
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: It will be nice for people to see me for who I am rather than my EastEnders character
Role in the camp: Chatterbox and little sister
Miss most: My daughter. It’s going to be the longest we’ve been apart
Dream campmate: Denzel Washington would be awesome. I would listen to every word he said
Relationship status: Single
Name: JORDAN NORTH
Age: 30
Claim to fame: Radio 1 DJ
Phobias: It’s just easier to say what I am not scared of. I have so many phobias
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: On my Radio 1 show, I am always bubbly and energetic but everyone has down moments too, so it will be nice for people to see what I am really like
Role in the camp: Entertainer and the tidy up person –I love a tidy house
Miss most: A nice cool pint of Guinness
Dream campmate: Barack Obama and Liam Gallagher. He would be great entertainment value
Relationship status: Single
Name: HOLLIE ARNOLD MBE
Age: 26
Claim to fame: Paralympic gold medallist
Phobias: Spiders
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I don’t want it to focus on my disability
Role in the camp: Cook/shoulder to cry on
Miss most: My boyfriend, food and my cats
Dream campmate: Michelle Keegan –she is beautiful
Relationship status: Dating
