Noel Edmonds’ £600,000 fee has reportedly caused ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ bosses to scrap plans for a second secret campmate.
It is said that after spending a reported £600,000 to sign former ‘Deal or No Deal’ host Noel Edmonds to the show as the 11th campmate, the decision was made to cut the total number of contestants from 12 to 11 for the first time in 11 years.
An ITV insider told The Sun newspaper:
“Bosses for ‘I’m A Celebrity’ spent so much on signing Noel for the show that there’s only 11 contestants planned this year.
“They have really pushed the boat out and splashed the cash more than ever before – meaning a change to the format had to be made.
“Harry Redknapp and Noel cost over £1 million between the two of them and they’ve spent good money on the likes of Nick Knowles and Rita Simons too.”
The report follows claims that the 69-year-old presenter – who has hosted shows including ‘Top of the Pops’, ‘Multi-Coloured Swap Shop’ and ‘Noel’s House Party’ – has insisted he will walk away from TV if he is crowned King of the Jungle on the reality TV show.
A source claimed that Noel has been overheard saying:
“I said in my pre-interview that if the nation votes me King of the Jungle I will leave television for good.
“A wonderful inducement for the nation to have peace and tranquility at last.”
Noel will join former ‘Torchwood’ actor John Barrowman, football manager Harry Redknapp, ‘Coronation Street’ star Sair Khan, former ‘EastEnders’ star Rita Simons, ex-‘X Factor’ wannabe Fleur East, The Vamps guitarist James McVey, TV presenter Nick Knowles, ‘Hollyoaks’ actor Malique Thompson-Dwyer, ‘The Chase’ quiz queen Anne Hegerty, and ‘Inbetweeners’ actress Emily Atack in the jungle.