THE celebs may have had to swap the exotic Australian jungle for a remote castle in Wales, but I’m A Celebrity has still got the nation hooked on a nightly basis.
This year we have two contestants with a strong local connection - presenters Vernon Kay and Victoria Derbyshire.
But they are by no means the first celebs who we might claim as ‘ours’ to take part in the show.
Back in 2007, actress and model Gemma Atkinson who was born just down the road in Bury came fifth in the series, won by Christopher Biggins.
In 2011, it was the turn of Coronation Street star Antony Cotton, also from Bury, to step up to the challenge finishing fourth behind McFly’s Dougie Poynter.
The following year Helen Flanagan swapped the cobbles of Weatherfield for Bush Tucker trials. Helen, who grew up in Sharples was seventh on the show won by EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks.
The closest Bolton has got to a winner so far came in 2014 when Blackburn-born former World Superbike champ Carl Fogarty won the show.
Perhaps the most famous appearance to date in the long-running series came in 2017 when Bolton boxer Amir Khan took part. He eventually finished fourth behind reality star Georgia Toffolo but he caused a sensation with the Strawberry-gate affair’ when he and fellow contestant, comedian Iain Lee kept a treat meant for all their camp mates to themselves.
Finishing one place above Amir was yet another Coronation Street star, Bury-born Jennie McAlpine.
In 2018 arguably the brainiest contestant ever to appear on I’m A Celebrity, Anne Hegerty was on the show.
Star of The Chase and a regular in the Bolton Quiz League, Anne won a whole new set of fans after revealing that she had lived with Asperger’s for much of her life as she didn’t want her fellow celebrities to feel sorry for her.
In 2020 the prize is to become king (or queen) of the castle and so far our two local contestants are doing us proud.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here