If you thought John Barrowman was the secret I’m A Celebrity camper – then think again.
Noel Edmonds is reportedly being lined up to join the cast of 2018 as a secret guest alongside stars including Emily Atack, Nick Knowles and Anne Hegerty.
The former Saturday night TV star, 69, is a “huge name” who show bosses are hoping will up the ratings, according to the Mirror.
“ITV was desperate to get Noel,” a source told the publication. “He's a huge name to secure and everyone has high hopes he’ll pull in plenty of ratings.”
Edmonds will reportedly pocket £500,000 for his first foray into reality TV.
ITV declined to comment. Standard Online has contacted representatives for Edmonds.
The Deal or No Deal presenter was soon trending on Twitter with one user posting: “Christ. Who next Mr Blobby?”
Another posted: “If Noel Edmonds goes in #imacelebrity and the live trial isn’t a jungle version of Deal or No Deal I’ll be very disappointed.”
A third wrote: “Noel Edmonds is the secret addition to I'm a celeb ... can't wait to see the Bushtucker Trial ‘Eel or no eel’”.
The news comes months after his multi-million pound legal battle with Lloyds Bank over his empire, Unique Group, which was one of several businesses that collapsed at the hands of ex-HBOS bankers David Mills, Alison Mills, Lynden Scoufield, Mark Dobson, Michael Bancroft and John Cartwright who have all since been imprisoned.
Edmonds opened up about the ordeal last year, saying his “world imploded” and he was left in a ‘dark space’.
In recent years he has hit the headlines with plans to launch a radio station for animals and for claiming negative energy can cause cancer
Declan Donnelly and Holly Willoughby will welcome the VIP camp mates into the Australian jungle on Sunday night.
I'm A Celebrity is on ITV, Sunday at 9pm
