ITV bosses are to air I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! from the end of October – to avoid a clash with football’s World Cup.
The hit show will launch three weeks earlier so that the king or queen of the jungle is crowned just before the tournament in Qatar kicks off, insiders say.
Usually a summer event, the World Cup’ starts on November 21, the date I’m a Celeb began last year. But this time, bosses plan to start on October 30 so the Ant and Dec fronted show ends on November 20.
England are expected to perform well after reaching the final of the Euros last year so the decision was taken to shift the entire series rather than risk clashes with the tournament.
One insider said: “The best thing for viewers was to just avoid the clash altogether. The last thing anyone wants is for the audience to have to choose between the latest from the jungle and an England game.”
After two years in cold Gwrych Castle, in North Wales, the show will return to Australia this year unless they are prevented by Covid restrictions.
Last month ITV boss Carolyn McCall confirmed: “If we can go back to Australia – and this show is meant to be in Australia – then that’s what we’ll do.”
The World Cup is also set to play havoc with BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing, which could move to Fridays or to BBC2 when big games are on.
An ITV spokesman said it was “too early” to confirm scheduling for this year’s I’m a Celebrity...
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