ITV bosses are working on a back-up plan to relocate production of this year’s I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here to the UK because of rising Covid-19 infections in Australia.
Show chiefs are investigating alternative sites to stage this year's 20th series of the programme in case the Australian jungle setting is judged off-limits.
They are desperate for the ratings-winner, fronted by Ant and Dec, to go ahead as usual, having already seen advertising revenues slashed during the pandemic, reports MirrorOnline.
With many dramas on hold and major sports tournaments postponed, schedulers are having to fill airtime with repeats.
One source revealed: “Having I’m a Celebrity for three weeks in November is seen as a huge priority.
"Everyone hopes to get back to Australia but over there they are struggling massively with flare-ups resulting in second lock-downs. It simply may not be possible because of safety."
The source went on: “A decision needs to be made next month – in the meantime, the team is looking at stately homes, castles, mansions in remote areas of Scotland and England to see if we could stage it here.
"A dark, cold and spooky version of the show would be good fun – it would certainly be different.”
Bosses believe if the long-running show is set in the UK it will be memorable for viewers, in similar fashion to 2018 when Holly Willoughby stood in for Ant McPartlin for one year.
The series, which launched in 2002, is one of ITV’s biggest hits, pulling in audiences of up to 10million last year.
