The 20th series set off with a bang in an archaic Abergele landmark
It’s that time of year again! We’re all riled to see a host of celebrities facing unthinkable trials and thousands of creepy crawlies. But this year, ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! has traded the Australian jungle for none other than North Wales’ beautiful hillside.
On Sunday, millions of viewers from across the UK tuned in to watch ten well-known faces (including Eastenders star Shane Ritchie and Sir Mo Farah!) make their entrance to Gwrych Castle in the 20th series of the show.
This chilly swap from the land-down-under to the land of our fathers comes after a strange and unpredictable 2020 – but who knows what other strange and unpredictable events the producers have in store for the fresh-faced celebrities?!
Here at Lyons Holiday Parks, we feel pride at the notion of a record-breaking 10.9 million viewers honing on the beautiful North Welsh location – only TWO MILES from our collection of sites in Towyn, Lyons Kingsley Holiday Park, Lyons Abbeyffordd Holiday Park, and Lyons Lyndale Holiday Park.
The castle is also only 9 miles from our flagship park Lyons Robin Hood and just 3 miles from one of our beachfront locations, Lyons Winkups Holiday Park. The castle can also be spotted clearly, just off the A55 driving towards Conwy.
Stunning panoramic views overlooking Conwy county were seen as the first five celebrities made their way to North Wales via helicopter. Residents of Abergele and other coastal towns were quick to spot the choppers last weekend, sparking suspicion that the celebs were set to skydive into camp similarly to previous years.
Officials confirmed that aerial activity status over Gwrych Castle and surrounding areas is now a ‘red zone’ and will stay as such until December 5th when the show ends. This is to prevent others from flying overhead and snapping some sneaky footage of the isolated celebs.
But skydiving suspicions were nullified on national TV last night, as the first five celebs – Shane Ritchie, Sir Mo Farah, Coronation Street’s Beverly Callard, Paralympian Hollie Arnold MBE, and Strictly professional AJ Pritchard – were dropped off safely in the middle of an open plane, believed by local residents to be near Beaumaris, Anglesey.
Meanwhile, the remaining five celebrities – actress Jessica Plummer, Radio 1 DJ Jordan North, podcaster Giovanna Fletcher, TV presenter Vernon Kay, and broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire – travelled via Land Rover to the top of an ominous cliff. The two sets of five had to work together to abseil down the cliff face and retrieve their camping rucksacks that were suspended mid-air.
The show paid visual tribute to North Wales’ vast and glorious landscape throughout the premiere, and many celebrities were quick to comment on the beauty of the views in front of them. Jessica Plummer told Vernon Kay she wished she had her phone on her (rubbing it in that the celebs, fresh from the home comforts of lockdown, aren’t allowed any form of technology in the castle with them) in order to take a picture.
Like Jess, we certainly think North Wales is an instagrammable spot. But we do also think they’ll be missing Australia’s humid and tropical heat, especially as the latter five celebs shivered on the precipice overlooking the Irish Sea, and the North Welsh wind ripping through their hair.
It’s set to be a cold three weeks for the celebs inside the walls of the historic Gwrych Castle, with the Met Office confirming temperatures will drop to just 6°C during the nights of this coming week. We hope the celebrities will be able to jig the archaic boiler, dating back to 1810, in order to have a hot shower.
Who will crack under the Welsh chilly sky? Who will rise and reclaim the throne of Gwrych Castle? Stay tuned with Lyons for more fun facts!
