I’m A Celeb stars may be facing their toughest trial ever – the Bushtucker Backpack Bed Down.
Instead of relaxing in the five-star Palazzo Versace after weeks of jungle hell, tough Aussie Covid rules mean they may have to bunk down in Byron Bay.
The surfers’ resort is loved by backpacking teens and attracted hilarious sex flops Jay, Neil, Simon and Will in the second Inbetweeners’ film.
Shunning the Palazzo Versace is one of the steps ITV bosses are considering as I’m A Celeb returns Down Under after last year’s series in Gwrych Castle, Abergele, north Wales.
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The hotel is on Queensland’s Gold Coast but the jungle camp, like Bryon Bay, is on the other side of the state border in New South Wales. So if Covid once again shuts borders, the show could be “killed stone dead”, insiders fear.
Contestants already face two weeks’ isolation on arrival before filming.
The show, which employs a 500-strong crew, is a huge boost to the local economy.
One Aussie crew member said: “It’s fantastic the show is heading back to Oz this year but it doesn’t mean it can be filmed as it has in previous years.
“They need to be prepared in case there is a new Covid outbreak in the area.
“There have been years when celebs have been booked at the very last minute but that can’t happen if the quarantine rules remain in place.”
He said Ant and Dec’s traditional night out in Coolangatta, Queensland, to celebrate Ant’s birthday on November 18 will probably be scrapped.
They and the celebs are likely to fly to Sydney before travelling to the set to avoid crossing state borders – rather than land in Queensland capital Brisbane as usual and risk falling foul of Covid rules.
The source added: “There’s a scramble to book hotel rooms for the crew just in New South Wales.
"Finding that number of rooms around the jungle camp is an issue. It’s a headache.
“At least Ant and Dec will be OK, they can still stay at their usual apartment in New South Wales in Cabarita Beach.
“Producers are managing to tackle these issues now. The hundreds of Aussies involved in the show are all grateful they’re getting their jobs back.”
During the pandemic, the Palazzo Versace had a megabucks overhaul.
