ITV has splurged £2.1million on signing famous faces for this year’s I’m A Celebrity – one of the biggest bills in the show’s 20-year history.
Bosses wanted to ensure the new series, which kicked off last night, had a sensational line-up for its return to Australia.
Whereas most series only have one or two expensive signings, this time the bill has been swollen by a string of pricey celebs heading into the jungle.
A TV insider said: “This is a huge amount but ITV see coughing up this kind of cash as a worthwhile investment for the right blend of characters.
“Producers know that the right combination of stars will get viewers tuning in and staying with the show over the next three weeks – but that costs serious money.