I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2008

Desperate Housewives star Jesse Metcalfe is heading into the Australian jungle - he's reportedly in talks to star in reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here

The actor, 29, is said to be in negotiations with network bosses over a GBP100,000 deal that would see him take part in the TV programme when it begins next month.

A source tells the News of the World, "Jesse's been seen around London the last few days and he's made no secret of the fact that I'm a Celeb want him in the show.

"He was keen to join. He wouldn't have wasted his time flying over from the States otherwise."

The TV competition sees a group of stars live in the jungle for several weeks with basic necessities, earning their food and little luxuries in a series of challenging tasks.

Previous celebrities on the programme include former model Janice Dickinson, illusionist Uri Geller, and pop star Peter Andre.

Cash-strapped ex-boxer Chris Eubank has signed up for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

The former world middleweight champion believes a lucrative deal to appear on the ITV show will ease his financial troubles, a source claimed.

He was declared bankrupt in November 2005 owing £1.3million in taxes.

A source said: "Chris is set to do the show - it's in the early stages but he is really keen.

"He thinks it could be the answer to his financial troubles."

Eubank, 42, from Brighton, earned more than £10million as a boxer in the early 1990s but has struggled financially since quitting the ring in 1998.

The new series of the show is expected to start next month.

But a spokeswoman for ITV said: "We don't confirm names either way at this stage."

TELEVISION crusader Esther Rantzen has signed up for I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here, TV Biz can reveal.
The ex-That’s Life presenter, 68, will face giant, stinging bull-ants and other nasties in the Aussie jungle from next month to raise money for her charity ChildLine.

Last night, an insider at the ITV1 hit said: “We always love to have a glamorous older lady.

“We’ve had Jan Leeming, Janice Dickinson, Jennie Bond and Christine Hamilton — all of whom turned out to be the stars of the show, not least because they never showed fear. They were plucky and spirited and didn’t mind throwing themselves out of planes and getting to grips with creepy crawlies.”

Esther spoke recently about wanting to get the most out of life. She said: “At 20 we thought we would live forever.

“Now, as some of those closest to us are taken from us, we become very aware of our own mortality. Time is precious, and not to be wasted.”

The mum-of-three was last seen on TV on BBC1’s Who Do You Think You Are? discovering she was related to 19th Century diamond king Barney Barnato.

Jungle bosses might have to retitle their show Am I A Celebrity?

They have made two bizarre signings this year, we can reveal.

The first is former BBC controller Alan Yentob. And the other is Candace Bushnell, whose book inspired the Sex And The City series.

Fans will struggle to recognise them and some will think calling them “celebrities” is stretching the point.

Yentob, 61, was a major force at the Beeb in the 1980s looking after music and arts and working on highbrow shows like Arena and Omnibus. 

He was later promoted to the roles of BBC1 controller, director of programmes and creative director, introducing shows such as Have I Got News For You and Absolutely Fabulous.

But he was caught up in a TV fakery scandal dubbed “Noddygate” while hosting a show called Imagine.

Viewers were led to believe he interviewed the artists on the programme. But he was not there and filmed “cutaways” showing him nodding at the camera. He is currently hosting The Story Of The Guitar on BBC1 on Sunday nights.

Candace, 50, is the US author who penned a newspaper column called Sex And The City.

It was turned into the hugely successful Sex And The City series. Fans believe the Carrie Bradshaw character – played by Sarah Jessica Parker, 43 – is based on Candace herself.

She has since written another book, Lipstick Jungle, which has also been made into a series.

I’m A Celebrity – hosted by Ant, 32, and Dec, 33 above left – returns on ITV next month.

Ex- Blue Peter star Peter Duncan will appear in the next series of the reality hit.

The former kiddies presenter, 53, should be a dab hand at surviving in the Aussie outback.

He’s a real-life Chief Scout and is used to making things out of rubbish from his days on Blue Peter.

And Duncan shouldn’t have any problems with Bushtucker Trials either.

He had his own TV series called Duncan Dares in the 1980s where he tried wacky and dangerous stunts.

I’m A Celebrity – hosted by Ant McPartlin, 32, and Declan Donnelly, 33 – is due to return to ITV1 in November.

The Queen will mark Blue Peter’s 50th Birthday with a special tea party at Buckingham Palace next month for current presenters and four viewers.

Ex-Blue singer Simon Webbe is the latest star to be linked to this year's I'm A Celebrity....

According to The Sun, the former boyband member is currently negotiating a fee with the reality show's bosses.

"He is massively excited about the show as he's been out of the spotlight for a while," said an insider.

"Producers want him because he's a good talker and not afraid to say what's on his mind. He's also a former model so he'll be a bit of eye candy for the ladies."

Webbe is currently dating Layla Manoochechri from rejected X Factor finalists Girlband.

Other celebrities linked to the show include Esther Rantzen, Chris Eubank, former Blue Peter host Peter Duncan, Donny Osmond, Sex And The City author Candace Bushnell and model Abby Clancy.

Jesse Metcalfe has denied rumours that he is to appear on I'm A Celebrity.

The former Desperate Housewives star is quoted by WENN as saying: "I'm against reality shows. I find them very exploitative. I don't think they're that cool."

However, Metcalfe refused to entirely rule out the possibility of appearing on reality TV "in the later stages of my career, if ever I needed some money".

Esther Rantzen is the latest celeb to be linked with the ITV show.

TV hardman and comic Ricky Grover plans to have a right old giggle in the jungle after signing for I’m A Celebrity.



But the outrageous funnyman might have the TV censors racing for the mute button with his jokes.

In the past former boxer Grover, 47, has pulled no punches with his style of comedy.

His hard-hitting gags include:

"We never had paedophiles when I was a kid. We had to buy our own sweets."

"Never have sex with a midget with learning difficulties. It ain’t big and it ain’t clever!"

"I hear Rik Waller’s got Alzheimer’s. Apparently he’s got bulimia as well but he keeps forgetting to be sick.

EastEnder Ricky – who used to be a hairdresser and also appeared in Red Dwarf – will be heading to the Aussie jungle when I’m A Celebrity starts next month.

Show hosts Ant, 32, and Dec, 33, claim they are mounting a campaign to get nightclub boss Peter Stringfellow, 68, into this year’s show.

Andrew Sachs's granddaughter Georgina Baillie is rumoured to be in the lineup for this year's I'm A Celeb....

According to the Daily Express, the Satanic Sluts performer may enter the jungle at the end of the first week.

"We try to be as topical as possible and feature high-profile people who are in the news," said a show source.

"This year Georgina is on our hot-list. Andrew Sachs's name was mentioned too, but it's thought Georgina would be a great signing.

"She would probably go in as a surprise addition to the camp towards the end of the first week. She's the most searched-for celebrity online right now. She would be a big hit on the show."

Esther Rantzen, Simon Webbe, Chris Eubank, Peter Duncan and Abby Clancy have also been linked to the reality show.

That girl is milking it too far now! She wont be happy until she dragged herself into the gutter and brought total shame to her grandfather!