The line-up for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here 2023 has officially been announced – and this season is shaping up to be a wild one.
All the rumours that have been swirling this week – fuelled by Nigel Farage boarding a flight to Australia – have come true, with this year’s cast of campmates including Jamie-Lynn Spears, Sam Thompson and Grace Dent.
The hit ITV show will be returning to screens on Sunday 19 November, with brand new line-up of celebrities heading to the Australian bush.
Over the coming weeks the famous campmates will battle everything from food rations to the notorious Bushtucker Trials, leaving their usual luxuries far behind.
The madness will once again be overseen by Ant and Dec.
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Also on this year’s I’m A Celebrity 2023 line-up are This Morning‘s Josie Gibson, Fred Sirieix of First Dates fame (which films in Manchester), and YouTuber Nella Rose.
They’ll be joined by soap stars Danielle Harold (from Eastenders) and Nick Picard (Hollyoaks).
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The most controversial addition to the jungle so far is Nigel Farage, with viewers labelling ITV ‘a disgrace‘ for signing him up to the hit show.
The GB News presenter believes he’ll face a number of Bushtucker trials because ‘millions hate him’.
Nigel Farage will controversially join I’m A Celebrity 2023’s line-upJamie-Lynn Spears leads this year’s I’m A Celebrity castFred Sirieix joins the I’m A Celebrity 2023 line-up
Farage said: “I want to test myself. Business, politics, media, I’ve done so many different jobs and generally I have been reasonably successful. But I have never been tested in quite this way. It’s such a mental test and maybe I will discover who I really am.”
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He added: “Given millions hate me, I do expect people will vote for me to do trials! My crime was to stand against an establishment view and I was for many years the lone voice saying Europe wasn’t where we should be, so I have been a little bit demonised. I am hoping those who hate me might hate me a little bit less afterwards. But it’s a gamble.
“And the idea that somehow the things I represent – mean-spirited, small-minded, nasty, the ‘little Englander’ – all those accusations that have been flung at me over the years just aren’t true. If we can dispel some of those misconceptions, then that will be a good thing too.”
Jamie-Lynn Spears, actress, singer, and sister of Britney, is another famous face on this year’s I’m A Celebrity line-up.
She should be a fun watch, admitting she’s ‘absolutely frightened’ of all the creepy crawlies and terrifying heights involved in the show’s Bushtucker Trials.
Hollyoaks legend Nick Pickard will also join I’m A Celebrity’s 2023 line-upI’m A Celebrity 2023’s line-up includes food critic Grace DentMarvin Humes from JLS is heading into the I’m A Celebrity jungle
She said: “Everything I have seen I have been afraid of. Absolutely every one of these trials I am dreading. I haven’t looked at any of them and thought, ‘Oh cool, I could do that one’. This is going to be terrifying.”
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Former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson, whose girlfriend Zara McDermott just finished a stint on Strictly Come Dancing, said that he recently tried to test his camping skills but gave up and went home at 10pm… which bodes well for the jungle.
This Morning‘s Josie Gibson has warned she has a gripping fear of creepy crawlies; Channel 4 star Fred Sirieix so afraid of ‘everything’ he’s been having nightmares about the jungle; and YouTuber Nella Rose so frightened of bugs she once ‘moved out’ because a daddy long legs was in her bedroom.
The I’m A Celebrity 2023 line-up is completed by food critic Grace Dent (phobias: horrible people… her and Nigel should be a fun watch); JLS singer Marvin Humes; Eastenders’ Danielle Harold; and long-standing Hollyoaks icon Nick Pickard.
Wayne Rooney joins the cast of Gary Neville’s The Overlap
Danny Jones
Wayne Rooney has secured a new job just a few months on from departing as Birmingham City head coach, with the Manchester United and England legend being named as the latest member of The Overlap team.
Set to join the cast of the popular Stick to Football online series alongside the likes of former teammates Gary Neville and Roy Keane, as well as the rest of the recurring panel.
Rooney is also set to feature on various other shows across The Overlap channel, including the likes of their regular fan debates and other interviews with athletes and well-known figures.
They announced the signing in true transfer window fashion as well.
As transfer expert Fabrizio Romano quips in the video, Rooney “has signed an agreement with The Overlap” and is expected to make his debut very soon
‘Wazza’ has appeared as a pundit on Sky Sports in recent weeks and has even been spotted playing some FIFA with comedy YouTuber AngryGinge as part of his pro clubs series, but hasn’t been in a steady role since being sacked as the Birmingham manager at the start of the year.
Having already appeared as a guest in one of the most popular episodes of Stick to Football and clearly sharing a strong chemistry with his old friends – as well as the likes of fellow Scouser Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott and Ian Wright – it looks to be a natural fit for the sport-based channel.
The 38-year-old revealed some pretty interesting details about his playing and managerial career last time around, not to mention some of the other offers he’s had since…
Rooney reiterated during his own interview that his primary focus is still on coaching and finding his next managerial role, but for the time being, he’ll be bringing the insight of another ex-pro to the popular YouTube channel.
Speaking on his latest move, the former striker said, “I’m excited to announce that I will be joining my good mate Gary Neville and the team at The Overlap to appear on the channel across some of their brilliant shows on YouTube and the podcast. I can’t wait to get started”.
With an episode from at least one of their series going out most weeks, you can expect to see the footballing legend back on the channel soon.
Featured Images — The Overlap/Wayne Rooney (via Instagram)
TV & Showbiz
Paddy McGuinness announces work-in-progress shows ahead of first stand-up tour in eight years
Danny Jones
Beloved British comic Paddy McGuinness is heading back out on his first live stand-up tour in eight years this year and has announced a new run of work-in-progress shows in preparation, including one right here in Greater Manchester.
McGuinness hasn’t been out on the live comedy circuit for the best part of a decade but announced his long-awaited return late last year, with the 50-year-old heading out on the road this October.
However, as he looks to get stage sharp shape ahead of his ‘Nearly There’ tour, Paddy has picked a pair of local North West venues for the WIP sets, with a trio of shows at The Met in Bury, as well as half a dozen over in Darwen, Lancashire.
Just like the tour itself, these are sure to go quickly.
The Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy star is playing nearly half a century of shows across the UK and Ireland from this fall onwards before closing out his tour in Dublin by April 2025.
His last tour, ‘Daddy McGuinness’ ran from 2015-16 and got pretty decent reviews across the board, with the focus largely revolving around his journey into parenthood, but his latest material is set to be quite the shift in tone.
Speaking ahead of the tour, the former Take Me Out and Top Gear host said: “It’s been eight years since my last tour and there’s lots of things to laugh about! I’m looking forward to getting back in front of a live audience, along with running the gauntlet of cancel culture, clickbait and fake news!”
Paddy also made a bit of a stir around these parts recently after he declared Bolton as still being part of Lancashire. No likey, no lighty on that one – sorry Paddy.
But never mind all that, we’re glad to see him getting back to his roots. The Farnworth-born funny man was also recently given a permanent role on BBC Radio 2 after becoming a firm favourite amongst the listenership. He will now run the 11am-1pm slot on Sundays.
As for his tour, after his warm-up shows in Bury and Darwen, the household name will be heading to The Lowry in Salford in March next year, with other nearby shows in the likes of Blackburn and Blackpool.
Tickets for Paddy McGuinness’ work-in-progress dates go on sale Friday, 3 May at 10am.
Daisy Jackson -
13th November 2023 
