Babatunde Aleshe has reportedly signed on for ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’
Ant and Dec will be hosting the show
The ‘Celebrity Gogglebox’ star - who appears on the Channel 4 show alongside ‘Masked Singer’ judge Mo Gilligan - is said to be heading into the jungle as ITV's star-studded reality show returns to Australia after two years away due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An insider told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: “Bosses are really excited to have Babatunde in the mix.
“He’s become a firm favourite with 'Celebrity Gogglebox' viewers and producers reckon he’ll be a great campmate. He’s been doing stand-up for years but it’s his banter and constant one-liners with best mate Mo on Celebrity Gogglebox that really impressed the casting team.
“It’s a great opportunity for him to head to the jungle.”
Babatunde - who has television credits including ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Waking the Dead’, and ‘EastEnders’ - will venture Down Under after the Ant and Dec-fronted reality show was forced to become a domestic production at North Wales’ Gwrych Castle due to travel restrictions brought in following the on-set of the coronavirus pandemic.
In May the pair, both 46, insisted the show had “to go back” to Oz after “two lovely” series in 2020 and 2021 - which were won by Giovanna Fletcher and Danny Miller respectively - once the travel uncertainty was lifted.
Dec Donnelly - who has presented the show with Ant McPartlin since its conception in 2002 - said: "If they let us in the country, we'll be back in.
"We had two lovely years in Wales, we really enjoyed our time in Wales, but this show has to be in Australia, we have to go back."
Late last month, while filming in South Africa, the National Television Award winners also shared a social media sneak peek of the all-star spin-off - which is due to air in 2023 - featuring fan favourites from the show’s two decade run.
In the video, Dec said: "We’ve got news, it’s probably the worst kept secret in television, but we can confirm we’re doing a very special series of ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ in South Africa.
“It’s gonna be your favourite celebrities from the past 20 years who are going back in to do it one more time."
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