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.
Watch out for the big ants, Rantz
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.
Satanic Sluts Baillie for 'I'm A Celeb...'
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.
Joe Swash signs up for 'I'm A Celeb...'
Joe Swash has signed up for the forthcoming series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
The former EastEnders actor, who played Mickey Miller in the BBC soap, will head to Australia this week ready for the programme's launch on Sunday.
"For years he was at the centre of the London party scene and TV bosses are hoping he'll spill the beans on some of his famous conquests," said an ITV source.
The show will be Swash's first television job since he was axed from EastEnders in February.
Paddick to get sweaty in jungle
GAY top cop Brian Paddick has signed up for the jungle — alongside Wimbledon ace Martina Navratilova, TV Biz can reveal.
The Met’s ex-deputy commissioner, 50, will be munching on bugs just months after losing his bid to become London Mayor.
The police chief, who retired last year, is best known for telling his officers not to bother nicking people found with cannabis.
Meanwhile, lesbian tennis ace Martina, 52, will fly to Australia from her home in Florida to join I’m A Celebrity, which starts on ITV1 on Sunday.
She has been called the greatest tennis player who ever lived, and won Wimbledon a record NINE times.
Ex-EastEnder Joe Swash, 26 — who played soap hearthrob Mickey Miller — flew out from Heathrow Airport yesterday to join the camp in Murwillumbah, New South Wales — just as TV Biz revealed weeks ago.
Other names headed Down Under are MP-turned-presenter Robert Kilroy-Silk, 66, Blue singer Simon Webbe, 29, telly favourite Esther Rantzen, 68, and former TV presenter Dani Behr, 37.
They will be among ten celebs in the camp — with ITV chiefs announcing the full line-up today.
From The Sun
Sulu joins new jungle gang
STAR Trek’s George Takei has signed up for his strangest mission yet — joining the cast of I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!
The gay star, 71, is famed for exploring space as Mr Sulu in the classic sci-fi series.
But he’s unlikely to have encountered anything like the bizarre world awaiting him in the Australian jungle, where he will face snakes, spiders AND perma-tanned politician Robert Kilroy-Silk.
George, the ITV show’s oldest-ever contestant, insists he will cope when the series starts this Sunday.
He said: “I’m physically fit. I used to run marathons, now I work out every day.”
And the actor claimed he was ready for any gut-wrenching Bushtucker trials.
He said: “I’m Japanese and love sushi. I’ve even eaten live fish. It was delicious.”
George, who recently wed partner Brad Altman, is one of three gays on the show’s eighth series.
As The Sun revealed, ex Met deputy Brian Paddick is in the line-up, along with former tennis champ Martina Navratilova.
The remaining contestants are Carly Zucker — fiancee of soccer’s Joe Cole — ex-EastEnder Joe Swash, former Blue singer Simon Webbe, TV host Dani Behr, Esther Rantzen, and glamour girl Nicola McLean.
I’m A Celebrity kicks off on ITV1 on Sunday at 9pm.
'I'm A Celeb' stars in pay row?
Contestants on I'm A Celebrity... are apparently fuming over their pay packets for appearing on the reality show.
Nicole McLean, 24, was angered when she realised her £7,500 wage was considerably less than Dani Behr's £40,000 deal, the Daily Mail says.
WAG Carly Zucker, who will get paid £10,000, reportedly backed up the former glamour model and threatened to quit until producers pointed out that the exposure could lead to magazine deals.
Martina Navratilova, 52, has apparently secured £30,000, while 68-year-old Esther Rantzen is said to be pocketing £25,000. An insider said: "Producers are holding out hope that Martina will be one of the most controversial and vocal figures on the show."
George Takei, 71, who played Mr. Sulu in the original Star Trek series, is on £20,000. He complained that the show was a "complete shambles" after no-one met him at Brisbane airport and he was left "wandering the airport for 30 minutes" alone.
I'm A Celebrity... starts on Sunday on ITV at 9pm.
Swash unhappy with 'stern' Navratilova
I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! star Joe Swash has expressed fears that his teammate Martina Navratilova could become a rival in the jungle.
The former EastEnders actor admitted that he was apprehensive about spending time with Navratilova after the former tennis champion appeared to doubt his chances of succeeding in the group's first challenge.
Swash was speaking after being picked to represent his team in a Trauma Tank task.
"She didn't want me to do it in the first place," Swash complained. "I could tell that she didn't because there's quite a lot riding on it. As soon as I put my hand up I could see her face drop.
"Then she had a bit of a dig at me outside so I think she'll be quite stern. And she's a big girl isn't she! I really hope I don't get on the wrong side of her."
The star then admitted that he regretted putting himself forward for the task, explaining: "If I could change my mind I would now. I'm starting to think it wasn't the brightest decision I ever made."
I'm A Celebrity premieres at 9.00pm tonight on ITV1.
'Celeb' contestants divided on first day
The I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! contestants have been split into two separate camps after going head-to-head in their first challenge.
Show hosts Ant and Dec surprised the celebrities on their first day by revealing that a trial would take place before they even set foot in the jungle. The result would determine the quality of camp life for each contestant, with one location offering more comfort than the other.
With the contestants already divided into two teams, one celebrity from each group was required to represent their squad by taking part in a Trauma Tank challenge.
After much discussion, former EastEnders actor Joe Swash was picked to play for his team, which also features Brian Paddick, Dani Behr, George Takei and Martina Navratilova.
Meanwhile, ex-Blue singer Simon Webbe was chosen by Esther Rantzen, Carly Zucker, Nicola McLean and Robert Kilroy-Silk to represent their own group.
The task saw both contestants being challenged to gather more stars than their opponent after being placed in large tanks with rats, eels and scorpions.
The result will be revealed when the show premieres on ITV1 tonight at 9.00pm.
