Radio Bosses Persuade Ferrari to Stay
In a dramatic turn of events, broadcaster Nick Ferrari has withdrawn from discussions to appear on the upcoming series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! after his radio bosses made a decisive intervention. The LBC presenter, a regular fixture on ITV's This Morning, was in what sources described as "really productive conversations" with programme executives about joining the cast.
The Lucrative Counter-Offer
Insiders reveal that when the 66-year-old informed his superiors at Global, the parent company of LBC, about the jungle opportunity, they implored him to reconsider. A source close to the situation disclosed: "They pledged to match any fee he was set to receive as they consider him such a vital and well-loved part of the LBC schedule." This financial counter-offer proved decisive in keeping Ferrari on air.
Ferrari was first linked to the popular ITV programme at the close of September, with rumours intensifying in recent weeks that he was heading to Australia. An insider had previously indicated that producers were "determined to bag him" and were "prepared to dig deep into their pockets for a lucrative fee." However, Global flexed its financial muscle to retain their star presenter.
Jungle Dreams Dashed, Pay Rise Secured
A significant factor in Global's reluctance was the potential for Ferrari to be off air for up to six weeks during the jungle stint, a situation they were keen to avoid. The source added: "Nick is really well liked by those working on LBC and everyone thinks he has played a blinder by getting a payrise out of it."
Ferrari's connection to the show runs deep; he was Carol Thatcher's 'celebrity friend' when she won the series years ago and has been known to the production team since. While ITV were eager to secure his participation, they had not yet submitted a formal proposal. An insider lamented, "Nick would have been great but alas it wasn't to be."
This development comes as the 25th series, once again hosted by Ant and Dec, prepares to launch. The star-studded line-up jetting off to Australia includes:
- Emmerdale's Lisa Riley
- Former model Kelly Brook
- Ex-EastEnders actress Shona McGarty
- YouTuber Morgan Burtwistle (Angry Ginge)
- Musician Martin Kemp
- Comedian Ruby Wax
- TV presenter Alex Scott
- Jack Osbourne
Lisa Riley recently hinted at her upcoming adventure, stating it was something she wanted to do "before I turned 50 as a test for myself." The series is set to kick off a week on Sunday, promising another season of bush tucker trials and campfire drama.
