Over the years, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here has pulled in some pretty famous contestants (as well as some… less famous contestants).
This year alone, that includes actual popstar Boy George, actual member of the royal family Mike Tindall, and actual disgraced politician Matt Hancock.
In previous years, there’s been Caitlyn Jenner – part of the multi-billion-dollar Kardashian-Jenner clan – as well as reality TV icon Gemma Collins, Olympic hero Mo Farah, and football legend Harry Redknapp.
That’s not to mention the stars who created some of the ITV show’s most memorable TV moments, like Myleene Klass, Katie Price, Paul Burrell and Gillian McKeith.
You’d expect those names to pull in some pretty hefty fees – but some of the highest-paid contestants in I’m A Celebrity history are probably not who you’re expecting.
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This is a reported ranking of the highest-paid I’m A Celebrity contestants of all time, compiled by The Tab.
Jennie McAlpine – £250k
N’aww, lovely Jennie McAlpine off Coronation Street has made the list of the highest-paid I’m A Celebrity contestants.
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She’s the only soap star to make the cut as well.
Nadine Coyle – £250k
Ah yes, that lying-about-her-age, going-viral-for-having-a-Derry-accent beauty Nadine Coyle pulled in a hefty fee for her time in the jungle.
The former Girls Aloud star is believed to have made almost a quarter of a million pounds for her stint, which saw her finish in fifth place.
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Mike Tindall – £265k
Not only is Mike Tindall British sporting royalty thanks to his rugby background, but he’s also actual royalty, given that he’s married to Zara Phillips.
He’s been a firm fan favourite so far this year and ITV bosses have probably agreed he’s been worth every penny.
Mo Farah – £300k
Sir Mo Farah was one of I’m A Celebrity’s most endearing contestants of all time, and everyone – both at home and in the series – loved him.
For his time in the Welsh castle (ah, Covid times), it’s reported he was paid £300k.
Matt Hancock – £400k
Eugh, this the contentious one. Matt Hancock, the disgraced MP who was caught breaking his own lockdown restrictions to have an affair with an aide, and who handed out Government contracts to his own contacts, landed in the jungle on this year’s series – and has promptly been voted in to do every single trial.
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It’s been claimed he’s been paid £400k, which might come in handy given that he’s been suspended from his day job.
This one’s not that surprising, given the huge sums that boxers as successful as Amir Khan can bring in for a single fight.
The Bolton-born Olympian commanded quite a big fee from ITV.
Ian Wright – £400k
There was a bit of tension surrounding Ian Wright’s appearance on I’m A Celebrity, with the star accused of bullying Andrew Maxwell.
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But overall he was pretty entertaining (even with the mood swings) and he pulled in a cool £400k. Series 19 was expensive.
Katie Price – £450k
Katie Price is so synonymous with I’m A Celebrity that she’s actually been a contestant twice – and her romance with pop star Peter Andre blossomed on the show back in 2003.
Her second visit to the jungle in 2009 it cost ITV £450k.
Boy George – £500k
Boy George will head into the I’m A Celeb jungle. Credit: ITV
It’s still pretty wild to see Boy George, arguably one of the most-recognised and famous pop stars of all time, in the Australian jungle eating out of a metal tray.
But here we are, and the Karma Chameleon singer is still living the bug-filled dream as we type.
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Harry Redknapp – £500k
Harry Redknapp was crowned King of the Jungle back in 2018, and he probably felt like he needed it after how much he missed his food back home (honestly, it was all he talked about).
He beat the much-loved Emily Atack to the crown, who went on to co-present the spin-off series Extra Camp.
Caitlyn Jenner – £500k
Can you actually believe this happened? Imagine any other member of the Kardashain-Jenner clan rocking up in the khaki shirt and red gilet (okay, except Rob, that wouldn’t be quite so shocking).
But Olympic hero Caitlyn Jenner made quite a splash when she was announced as a campmate, and struck up some unlikely friendships with British reality stars.
Noel Edmonds – £600k
Noel Edmonds. Noel makes-pretend-phone-calls-to-a-‘banker’, is-mates-with-a-giant-pink-blob Edmonds. That’s who got paid the most money of all time.
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He was parachuted into the jungle several days late, then got voted out first. He did just nine days for his £600k fee.
Nice work if you can get it.
Featured image: ITV
News
Government officially approves Eton’s plan to ‘remove barriers’ and open new FREE college in Oldham
Emily Sergeant
Eton’s plans to open a new free college in Oldham will officially go ahead following Government approval this week.
In case you need bringing up to speed a bit, plans for three new post-16 colleges – with the other two being in Dudley and Middlesborough – that are designed to help give young people who’ve done well in their GCSEs the opportunity to achieve the A-Levels they need to go to Oxbridge and other elite universities across the world were first announced back in March 2022, and then given the green light in August 2023.
Eton has partnered with Star Academies – which is said to be the highest-performing state school trust in the country – for the new colleges.
The colleges will aim to recruit ‘dynamic young people from deprived communities’, including in Oldham, and provide them with a ‘rigorous and rounded education’ that supports their ambitions to achieve places at ‘the very best universities’.
Oldham Council has welcomed the news that the new college – set to be named Eton Star Oldham – will go ahead, after the Government confirmed the conclusion of its national review into the proposals.
The decision means that Oldham will become one of the first places in the country to offer this new education model that combines high standards with strong partnerships and expanded opportunities for local young people.
The Government has officially approved Eton’s plan to open a new free college in Oldham / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Approval means pupils from every background will soon have access to the ‘very best’ opportunities.
Cllr Arooj Shah, who is the Leader of Oldham Coucil, said this is ‘great news’ for Oldham, adding: “Eton Star Oldham will give our young people access to life-changing opportunities, no matter their background or where they start in life.
“We have been clear throughout that this must be a college shaped with our young people, our parents and our communities.
“Now that the Government has confirmed it will go ahead, we will work closely with Eton College and Star Academies to make sure this delivers for Oldham’s children and opens doors for generations to come.”
Work will now begin on the detailed next steps – including design, delivery, and engagement with families and communities.
It’s also been confirmed that the college will be built on the current Tommyfield Market car park site in Oldham town centre.
Featured Image – Oldham Council
News
Former Salford Red Devils player planning phoenix club after the team’s collapse
Danny Jones
A former Salford Red Devils player is planning to start a phoenix club from the ashes of the fallen rugby league team.
Retired winger Mason Caton-Brown, who played for the Red Devils between 2014 and 2016, is leading the consortium currently being linked with resurrecting the Salford side.
The Greater Manchester sporting institution sadly folded following liquidation on 3 December after a prolonged period of uncertainty and crippling debts.
Despite investors promising funds and multiple adjournments to their winding-up ceremony, time simply ran out and now Caton-Brown and co. are, hopefully, looking to pick up the pieces.
Heading up the move to bring back the beloved outfit, the former chairman of the ‘Forever Reds Supporters Trust’ (FRST), Malcolm Crompton, local entrepreneurs Paul Hancock and Ashley Washington are also assisting with the proposal.
Simply known as ‘The Phoenix Bid’, they are said to have potentially secured a six-figure sum and have already reached some provisional pre-contract agreements with a new coach and several players ahead of the formal offer being taken into consideration.
Publishing a lengthy mission statement on social media earlier this week, the ex-pro wrote: “I moved to Salford from London over 10 years ago, and the club and city welcomed me with open arms.
“It made me who I am today. The Salford City community is like no other, and the club is a big part of that, so when I saw it was at risk of going under, I truly felt the need to be a part of a solution and give back to the club, city and the community.
“But I’m not on my own, I’m part of a team of people that are passionate about what this club means and truly focused on making sure a true Salford RLFC stays alive and is something the fans and the city can call their own.”
Chatting with BBC Sport Manchester in a recent interview, the 32-year-old Enfield-born athlete turned businessman – who also represented the London Broncos and Wakefield Trinity – claims that conversations with investors and stakeholders are progressing nicely.
🗣️ "We are looking to bring this club back to life"
Former Salford winger Mason Caton-Brown has outlined his plans for a new phoenix club.
Salford fans, make sure to listen back to last night's Total Sport.
Signing off the post with a strong assurance, he said: “If our bid is successful, I promise we will do everything we can to protect the club and build a future Salford can be proud of.”
As for the fans, a spokesperson for the aforementioned supporters’ trust dubbed the prospective personnel spearheading the revival as a “powerful and credible team”, with Caton-Brown promising to reveal all the exciting details if the bid gets green-lit.
Speaking in an official press release shared with The Manc, the one-time Jamaican international and adopted Salfordian added: “This isn’t just about rebuilding a club, it’s about rebuilding belief.
“Salford means everything to me as a club and is part of my story. We want to create something the city can be proud of again; a club that stands for honesty, sustainability, and genuine community connection.”
“We’re inviting the people of Salford to stand with us. Together we can rise again, not just to bring rugby league back to this city, but to make sure it thrives for generations to come.”
Do you think The Phoenix Bid will be successful and, more importantly, do you think this group are the right people to bring the club back and get them moving onwards and upwards again?
Daisy Jackson -
18th November 2022 
