Mark Wright has confirmed he has not been asked to join the cast of the All Stars edition of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! weeks after he denied reports he had been blacklisted by ITV.
A special series of the long running reality popularity contest is tipped to take place in South Africa at some point this year with favourite stars from the past 20 years expected to return to a jungle setting and face more trials.
But 35-year-old Mark – who was a runner up in the 2011 season, which was won by McFly star Dougie Poynter – has been shunned from the line-up.
The blow comes to Mark after reports emerged earlier this year that ITV bosses had 'blacklisted him' from appearing on any future shows after he ditched a high-profile show at the last minute, allegedly quitting via text.
Opening up about being left out of the new show, Mark attempted to suggest there were no hard feelings on his part.
The reality star said on Heart FM: “Olly Murs, I’d love to see him in the jungle actually, my good old mate Olly. There are rumours that there is going to be a I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Reunion, a best of.
“So think Gino D'Acampo, Joe Swash, Emily Atack, yes we’re talking Peter Andre maybe even Katie Price, imagine that, the best of the last however many years it’s been on, are going to be going into the jungle together.
He then quipped: “It’s great that I’ve not been asked, cheers guys, that means I was not the best.”
He went on: “Trust me, these guys are going back in there, they are brave to do it, because it is not easy, what’s you see when you’re watching it on tele the question I get asked from everybody ‘Is it really like that? Do you really suffer with boredom, are you really hungry, honestly?’
“Trust me, trust me, you’re starving, you’re bored, you miss your family, the trials are tough, the insects, you get two pairs of pants and that’s it and you have to wash them in the pond with a bar of soap, you wash in a pond that’s freezing cold.
“I could go on, trust me it’s tough but it’s also an incredible experience, so good luck to everyone that’s been asked back for that!”
Back in February, Mark infuriated ITV bosses when he quit a presenting role on sports show The Games – with reports suggesting he quit via text.
A source said at the time: “Mark’s name is mud at ITV at the moment.
“The only show they are happy for him to be on is Soccer Aid as he is one person in a sea of faces and has been a part of the event for years. But in terms of new shows – Mark won’t be approached by ITV."
Mark himself attempted to downplay the scandal, saying in an online statement soon after: "Refrained from commenting on this nonsense story for over a week because it's nonsense and there's plenty much more important stories to worry about in the world.
"Because it's constantly being repeated, here's my comment. I'm absolutely not banned from ITV, in fact I'm doing a show for ITV three months from now. The show that 'I quit' hadn't even signed a contract for!
"I 'called' the producer not text to tell her I'd had a change of heart on the show because I realised I'd had too many other commitments already to make it work.”
He added: "The media outlet who wrote this are not to blame. They can only believe what the person who is making this up is telling them."
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