Gail Porter drops out of I’m a Celebrity

November 10, 2010 By Trudi Johnson
gail-porter

TV presenter Gail Porter has reportedly backed out of appearing on the ITV1 reality TV show, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, at the eleventh hour.

The show bosses wasted no time in drafting in a replacement celeb to take over from the 39-year-old after she bailed at the last minute without any reason being given.

23-year-old glamour model and bunny girl Kayla Collins is now said to be on her way to the jungle in place of Gail Porter.

Show insiders believe Gail’s last minute dash to the exit may be due to the tough tasks she could face on the programme which is set in the Australian jungle. The notoriously grizzly bush tucker trials have apparently got the better of many a celeb in the past who’ve also bolted when reality hit home.

However there has been another unexpected twist in this story as another report has emerged claiming the mother-of-one was never in the running to enter the jungle in the first place. In a statement Gail Porter’s agent confirmed these reports saying her client had not agreed to appear on the show, adding that the TV presenter is unable to appear on every programme she is offered.

The line-up for the new series of I’m a Celebrity is believed to include amongst others, X-Factor singer Stacey Solomon, actor Nigel Havers, former MP Lembit Opik, athlete Linford Christie, actress Britt Ekland, Sheryl Gascoigne.

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I’m A Celeb contestants get their own way after cream tea row

December 3, 2009 By Kate Owen
contestants revolt over lack of cream teas
contestants revolt over lack of cream teas

contestants revolt over lack of cream teas

There was a stand-off between contestants and show producers on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here this week after the remaining 5 celebs felt hard done by when they received just 3 cream teas after Kim Woodburn and Jimmy White completed the celebrity chest question to win the treat.

Outspoken Kim was one of the first to object to the mean spirited treat and suggested the campers all stand together against show organisers in order to get what she felt, they rightfully deserved for completing the celebrity chest. Kim said: ”We’re throwing our mics down, all of us. I’ll tell you why I’m damned angry, I play the game here, I do as I’m told, I don’t break rules.”

Chef Gino was also incensed by the lack of scones and marched to the bush telegraph to issue producers with a warning: “I will give you 10 minutes to get 5 scones and 5 teas down here.”

Another gripe the final five had with their prize was that their cream tea was not served with tea. Instead they were presented with three scones with cream and jam. Kim lead the lively protest declaring, ”Three scones is not a cream tea,” before adding, “We’re putting our mics down and we’re not putting them on again until we get what we want. You are making monkeys out of us and I will not allow you to do this.”

The show’s producers were forced to give in to the celebrities demands in order to keep the peace, and another two scones with quickly delivered.

Following their calorific treat, the contestants were presented with another gift. Scales. All of the finalists weighed themselves and found they’d each lost over a stone in weight. No need to feel guilty about the cream tea then!

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Katie Price has enough and walks out of the I’m A Celeb jungle

November 23, 2009 By Kate Owen
Katie Price walks from the I'm A Celeb Jungle
Katie Price walks from the I'm A Celeb Jungle

Katie Price walks from the I'm A Celeb Jungle

After being nominated for her seventh bush tucker trial in a row, the glamour model said enough is enough and walked from the jungle. The mother-of-three’s £350,000 fee for appearing on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here may well be in jeopardy after her decision to leave the show less than a week after joining.

The 31-year-old wasted no time in getting back in touch with the outside world. From her luxury 5 star hotel room Katie posted a message on her Twitter blog which read: “Hey thank you for all your support!! I tried my best xxxxxxxxxxx”

Despite threatening to leave the jungle on several occasions previously, Katie finally left at 3 am UK time after a lengthy discussion with show producers using the Bush Telegraph. The message on the official I’m A Celeb site simply read, “Katie Price has left the jungle.” It is expected that Katie will return to the show tonight to explain her decision for leaving during an interview with Ant and Dec.

On last night’s show when the Geordie presenters announced that Katie and boxer Joe Bugner had been chosen by the public to face the next trial named the Bad Pitt, the model was defiant in her refusal to take part saying, “No way. I swore on my kids’ lives I’m not doing any more.” When asked for her take on why the public kept nominating her for the gruesome trails she replied, “Either they love me or they hate me. No idea.”

Katie returned to the jungle 5 years after her first appearance where she met Peter Andre who she later married. The couple divorced this year and Katie revealed that she hoped to gain closure on her broken marriage by returning to the place where it all began.

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Katie Price becomes the first celebrity to return to the jungle

November 12, 2009 By Trudi Johnson
Katie Price signs up for the jungle for a second time

Katie Price signs up for the jungle for a second time

After mounting speculation that Peter Andre was in talks to re-enter the jungle, this week has seen a surprising turn in events as his ex-wife Katie Price has announced that she will be returning to the show for this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. However the glamour model has already succeeded in getting the backs of her fellow contestants up after it was revealed that she will receive 5 times more money for appearing on the show.

Other I’m A Celebrity contestants this year include ex-Eastender Lucy Benjamin, Kim Woodburn from Kim and Aggie “How Clean Is Your House” fame, former glamour girl Sam Fox, Strictly Come Dancing’s Camilla Dallerup, and home makeover couple Justin Ryan and Colin McAllister amongst other. All of which are reported to be receiving in the region of £65,000 each to appear on the show, whereas Katie Price has signed deal which will see her bring home £350,000 from her stint in the jungle.

A friend of one of the contestants spoke out about the massive contrast in pay deals saying, “This is really taking the mick. We were pushing for more cash but were told things were tight this year. Now we know why.” ITV knows Katie is a ratings winner and her presence on the show will boost its profile no end, hence the massive pay-out.

Despite the lucrative deal, Katie won’t even enter the jungle until a week after the other contestants. The reason for the delay is said to be because the mum of three had prior commitments in the US, unofficially it’s been rumoured that’s she’s stopping off in LA to top up on Botox before her TV stint.

On her last outing on the ITV show in 2004, Katie met Peter Andre whom she married later that year.

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Ex-Eastender Joe Swash declared bankrupt

November 5, 2009 By Dez Rowley
King of the jungle Joe is declared bankrupt
King of the jungle Joe is declared bankrupt

King of the jungle Joe is declared bankrupt

Ex-Eastender and I’m A celebrity Winner Joe Swash has been declared bankrupt this week for the non-payment of an outstanding £20,000 tax bill. But the 27-year-old actor wasn’t even in the country when the court made the announcement as he was half way across the world in Australia for the start of the new series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

However Joe’s management are denying he is in financial difficulty and are standing by there claim that the bankruptcy has only come about because Joe has not got around to dealing with it. His agent has said, “Joe has not been around to sort this out.” Before adding, “The bankruptcy should never have gone through.”

Originally Joe was given a hefty £120,000 tax bill to pay. The actor has paid £100,000 but still owes the remaining £20,000. The news of the bankruptcy comes less than a year after the redhead was crowned king of the jungle in I’m A Celebrity.

Off the back of his jungle success he made a string of lucrative TV appearances, most recently he’s been seen on the screens of LivingTV alongside Pamela Anderson for the series Living With My Idol. The actor, who is dating his former Eastender co-star Kara Tointon, is said to have recently moved to a £400,000 flat in Essex.

Joe is currently away in Australia as he prepares to take on a guest presenting role on the new ITV series I’m A Celebrity. The word from Joe’s camp is that he will sort his bankruptcy issue out “imminently.”

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Peter Andre turns presenter after landing This Morning job

August 27, 2009 By Kate Owen
Peter_Andre2
Peter Andre lands job on This Morning

Peter Andre lands job on This Morning

Peter Andre’s star is rising as he lands on his feet with a job as showbiz reporter for the daytime TV favourite, This Morning. The ITV show returns next week on September 1st with a whole new look, a several new faces to boot.

Holly Willoughby is the most significant change to the mix as she replaces Fern Britton to co-host the show alongside Phillip Schofield. However for the first two week, Eamonn Holmes and his fiancé Ruth Langsford will resume presenting duties until the new pairing debut on September 14th. Other newcomers to the show include Linda Barker, chef Jean Christophe Novelli, and gardener Diarmuid Gavin.

This isn’t Pete’s first foray into presenting on the morning show. Along with his now estranged wife Katie Price, Pete presented a segment whilst the series I’m A Celebrity Get me Out Of Here was airing offering their opinions on events within the jungle. As a pair of ex-contestants themselves, the couple were well positioned to offer their views and were also popular with the viewers.

Last week the first episode of Peter Andre’s solo reality showed was aired on ITV2 and pulled in a staggering 2 million viewers, the highest audience figures for the channel this year. Pete has also re-launched his music career this summer and reached number 4 in the charts with his debut single, Behind Closed Doors, from his forthcoming new album. This Morning will hope to capitalise on Pete’s popularity and appeal to a whole new area of the audience market.

Peter announced his split from wife of 3 and a half years, Katie Price aka Jordan, in May of this year and the pair have rarely been out of the headlines since. The Mysterious Girl will be joining the hit show at a special time as This Morning celebrates its 21st anniversary in October and a whole host of celebrity guests are rumoured to appear to mark the occasion.

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Kerry Katona dropped as face of Iceland

August 18, 2009 By Trudi Johnson
kerrykatona
kerrykatona

Kerry Katona is set to loose £250k salary from Iceland

Kerry Katona has been dropped as the face of Iceland after The News of The World obtained footage of the mother of four snorting a white powder last week. The footage was taken without Kerry’s knowledge at her £1.5 million Cheshire home. Following the revelation the frozen food giant admitted it was “impossible” for Kerry to continue to front their advertising campaigns.

The 28-year-old celebrity will have to wave goodbye to her reported £250,000 a year salary she received from the frozen food retailer. The news is another blow to the troubled former Atomic Kitten singer who is also said to have been sacked from MTV after her reality show “What’s The Problem?” received disappointing ratings.

Her reputation took another nose dive last year when she appeared on “This Morning” and seemed to be under the influence of alcohol as she slurred her words looked extremely glazed. Kerry strongly denied the allegation she had been drinking and said the effects were due to the medication she was taking to control her bi-polar.

The personal life of the former “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here” contestant has been the stuff of tabloid fodder for years. Her marriage to taxi driver Mark Croft is on the rocks after allegations of his adultery arose. After initially splitting last month the couple are attempting to save their turbulent marriage.

In the past Iceland has stood by its front woman through her personal troubles. She has publically battled addiction to both drink and drugs but insisted her vices were now behind her. The newspaper which broke the story also claimed that Kerry’s children were in the house at the time of the filmed incident, although under the care of a nanny. It’s a far cry from 2004 when Kerry was named Celebrity Mum Of The Year twice in a row. However this latest stunt could potentially ruin the talentless celebrity who is running out of means by which to earn a living.

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Cerys Matthews pregnant with 3rd child

August 17, 2009 By Trudi Johnson
cerys-matthews-1b

cerys-matthews-1bEx-Catatonia front woman Cerys Matthews has revealed she’s expecting her third child with her manager Steve Abbott. The pair have enjoy a whirlwind romance since getting together in February this year.

The elated couple kept the news under wraps for four months amid fears of complications due to Cerys’s age. After receiving the all-clear, the 40-year-old mother-to-be announced the happy news to friends and family this weekend.

A friend of the couple revealed that the expectant parents have known each other for years after their professional relationship developed into something more personal earlier this year. Both Cerys and Steve, who is a former singer in an eighties punk band, are said to be “over the moon” at the news. The friend went on to say “You couldn’t wish for two better parents and the baby will certainly have every talented genes.”

The baby news marks a high point in both Cerys’ personal and professional life. After the break-up of her marriage to American music producer Seth Riddle, Cerys appeared on “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here” and embarked on a turbulent relationship with fellow contestant Marc Bannerman. Her career has gone from strength to strength too with Cerys touring the country with her band and bagging a regular slot as a presenter on BBC 6 Music.

Cerys and Steve’s bundle of joy is due in January and won’t be short of playmates as the couple have two children each from previous marriages. Despite moving to London from her home in Pembrokeshire, Cerys remains true to her Welsh roots and is said to have her heart set on a Welsh baby name.

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