Photo: BBC
BBC RADIO 1 DJ Jordan North – a graduate of the University of Sunderland’s award-winning Spark radio station – is the latest star to be tipped to join the upcoming series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
No official announcement had been made at the time of writing, but Jordan’s Facebook profile appeared to have been taken down – often a possible indicator of a celebrity about to enter the show.
Jordan was a presenter on Spark 10 years ago, and today his then-mentor and Spark compliance manager, Scott McGerty, said he was always a likely star of the future.
“He was definitely a star in the making,” said Scott. “He was one of the most ambitious and most determined broadcasters we’ve ever had here, and he was great to work with – such a talent.
“He had such a great sense of humour; I remember one of the funny things he did was a link about how he’d been using hair-removal cream on his chest and had to use his student card to scrape it off, ‘cos his dad had taken the scraper.”
Scott added: “I reckon his stories about his mam and dad will probably be entertaining the ‘Celebrity’ audience if he goes into the jungle – he was always telling stories about them.”
The full line-up for the ITV programme will not officially be revealed until a special episode airs on Sunday, but media reports have linked a number of famous faces with the show.
The Sun newspaper said on Thursday that North, 30, was the final celebrity to be signed up to join the cohort for the upcoming series.
The newspaper also claimed to be able to reveal the other 11 famous faces who will be joining North in appearing on the programme.
Four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah was among those to be touted as a possible contestant.
The 37-year-old distance runner, who played a starring role in the London 2012 Olympics, was first linked with the programme by The Sun last month.
BBC broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire and presenter Vernon Kay were also tipped to join the programme.
Coronation Street star Beverley Callard, former Strictly Come Dancing professional AJ Pritchard and author and podcast host Giovanna Fletcher will also take part, the report said.
Actress Ruthie Henshall, Paralympian Hollie Arnold and tenor Russell Watson have also been linked.
EastEnders actress Jessica Plummer and the soap’s former star Shane Richie have also been tipped to join.
The new series, which is taking place at Gwrych Castle in Wales rather than the usual location of the Australian jungle, due to coronavirus restrictions, will begin on November 15.
Gwrych Castle, in Abergele, has launched a £50,000 fundraising campaign aiming to restore a water supply and electricity.
The I’m A Celebrity production team will be using generators and water tanks during filming.