The I’m A Celebrity… Get me Out Of Here! line-up is one of TV’s most closely guarded secrets as each year as bosses send out the invitations to the Jungle.
While viewers at home often feel the wait is long, what they don’t know is that the search has been going on for months ahead to create the biggest wow-factor.
This year’s line-up was officially confirmed last month, but the star-studded list was long discussed and speculated by viewers in anticipation.
And it features an impressive list of stars, from the late Ozzy Osbourne‘s son Jack, to actress Ruby Wax, rapper Aitch and former Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp.
In a rare look behind the curtain of the ITV show, creative director Richard Cowles and celebrity producer Micky Van Praagh opened up on exactly how they build TV’s most unmissable line-up.
While Jungle fever only starts to spread on ITV in November, Micky, who opened up on the behind-the-scenes of the reality TV giant at a BAFTA Masterclass, is hard at work for months before.
The I’m A Celebrity … Get me Out Of Here! line-up is one of TV’s most closely guarded secret as each year as bosses send out the invitations to the Jungle
Ant and Dec are said to have some involvement in the casting of the ITV series
The process can start as early as March, just a number of weeks after the previous series has wrapped in the run up to Christmas each year.
She revealed: ‘I’m on my own in those early days, the team only starts to grow around April — but the core decisions? That’s all me.’
For example, in 2018, Micky was speaking with show star John Barrowman – who was removed from the Dancing On Ice lineup in 2021 over allegations of sexual misconduct – was snapped up long before fans began guessing.
‘It was confirmed around April, and we worked so hard to keep it quiet – I even faked travel photos so no one would notice I was going into isolation,’ Micky added.
While she’s on the hunt for the best talent, Micky is far from the only voice in the room, with producers, publicists, agents and celebrities even having a say.
The show’s hosts, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, also get to put names in the ring and are, according to the show makers, notorious for offering up their suggestions.
Cowles admitted that Dec’s suggestion of Noel Edmonds saw the TV presenter landed in the 2018 line-up after the pair worked together on Saturday Night Takeaway.
While celebrities have also volunteered themselves, according to Radio Times, with singer Fleur East admitted that she once told Micky backstage that she had only ever wanted to appear on one reality format, I’m A Celeb.
Richard Cowles admitted that Dec’s suggestion of Noel Edmonds saw the TV presenter landed in the 2018 line-up after the pair worked together on Saturday Night Takeaway
Richard (left) opened up about the process of finding the celebs at a BAFTA Masterclass
But behind each name there is a process, with Micky meeting each campmate personally, sometimes for a number of hours, to see if they’re cut out for the show.
‘You’ve only got one meeting to work out who they really are,’ she explained. ‘You have a mountain of questions and one chance to dig deep.’
Viewers have sometimes complained that they ‘don’t recognise’ some of the cast chosen for the final line-up, but Richard, who is also the producer of ITV giant Love Island, admitted this is intentional.
Wanting to appeal to all ages means that aside from two or three household names to act as the backbone of the line-up, there are often lesser-known celebs brought in.
He told the BAFTA Masterclass: ‘We cast those [most famous] celebrities for episode one. Then we build the rest of the series around them.’
Micky added that it was important to add ‘layers’ to the cast, by looking for ‘funny, high-energy people’ – and some celebrities remain on the ‘maybe’ list for years before the right line-up for them appears.
‘We never cast for conflict,’ Richard added. ‘Warmth is a big part of the show. Arguments are okay if they happen — but too many? Boring and a bit relentless.’
Nonetheless, the producers are aware it has to bring the entertainment value by making the experience ‘stressful’ to showcase ‘who they really are’.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! airs from 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
