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
Middleton to receive a cinema and Metrolink as part of regeneration plans
Thomas Melia
Greater Manchester town Middleton is about to undergo a huge facelift thanks to a new regeneration project, including a new cinema and Metrolink tram station.
Middleton is one of many bustling communities that make up the borough of Rochdale, and with these new plans, the town might receive a fair few new visitors who want to know what it’s all about.
The Greater Manchester town is undergoing a huge transformation with regeneration plans confirming that Middleton will receive a brand new cinema complex along with an extended Metrolink line as part of the Bee Network expansion covering this area.
This is all thanks to Middleton teaming up with the Mayor to launch the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which pushes forward regeneration plans for the town and future ideas.
Middleton Shopping Centre right in the heart of the town centre.Middleton Town Centre bustling as the markets take place.Credit: Steven Haslington (via Geograph)/@Rept0n1x (via Flickr)
The MDC considers lots of aspects of the town and even aims to create new homes and improve surrounding public spaces.
Middleton regeneration plans have been floated previously, but complications arose due to a lack of land and available funding, which ultimately brought these foundations to a halt.
Now it seems the green light has been lifted and Middleton is about to get a whole new facelift, which will not only improve the town economically but aesthetically too, along with the wider Rochdale region.
For many Middletonians, the idea of a cinema may have felt like a distant memory, with their last big screen location shutting down just over a decade ago.
This all-new high street regeneration will not only bring an array of shopping favourites back to the town centre but also the long-awaited return of a local cinema. Most importantly, the plans also include a slate of new housing, with an estimated 300 apartments set to be created in one building alone.
Early CGIs of the proposed Middleton regeneration plans.Grade II-listed Warwick Mill looks set to be turned into flats.Credit: Publicity Picture (supplied)
This all falls in line with the ‘Atom Valley scheme‘, which has been commissioned in order to generate over 20,000 job opportunities for people in Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.
The scheme also mentions how it aims to bring a combined economic boost of around £1 billion to these previously mentioned areas.
Rochdale Borough Council leader, Neil Emmott, said: “The development of 1.2 million square metres of employment space around the junction 19 area will help to generate 20,000 high-quality jobs and bring a £1 billion economic boost.”
Featured Image — Publicity Pictures (supplied via Rochdale Borough Council)
News
Scouting For Girls announce stacked UK tour with Manchester date
Thomas Melia
British boyband Scouting For Girls are heading out on an extensive UK tour with dates up and down the country, including right here in Manchester.
If the first thing that pops into your mind when you read this headline is “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know how we’ll make it through this”, then you’re on the right side of history.
Nearly 20 years since their single ‘She’s So Lovely’ reached catastrophic heights and had everyone putting on their best Roy Stride accent, Scouting For Girls are heading back on the road.
This UK tour announcement comes two years after their last project, The Place We Used To Meet, reached our ears and was coined by the band as “Our best work since our debut”.
It’s been 18 years since this Brit trio captivated our hearts with their eponymous debut album, which sold over one million copies and went number one on the UK official charts for two weeks.
Whether you know them for ‘Heartbeat’ or ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’, it’s clear to say this band had their fair share of smash hit singles throughout the noughties.
This tour, however, celebrates the sophomore follow-up: Everybody Wants To Be On TV, which went on to continue their legacy and secure them their only number one, ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’, back in 2010.
Now, the boys are treating UK fans to an array of live performances, and if you can’t make one date, fear not because there are 20 different locations for you to choose from.
The group will also be playing the likes of Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and a whole host of other Northern cities, so you have plenty of chances to catch them.
If you can’t wait all the way until March 2026 for your next Scouting For Girls fix, lead singer Stride has his own cameo account where you can get the star to read out a message or even sing you a song: “‘Michaela Strachan’ in full, please?…”
Scouting For Girls are coming to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 21 March 2026, with tickets going on sale next Friday, 2 May at 10am HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
18th November 2022 
