It’s almost time for time for I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! to return after 12 months away – and big name celebs are already landing in Australia.
The long-running reality series, which began all the way back in 2002, is about to begin its 24th series with famous faces bracing themselves to face the jungle.
Ahead of the competition, likes of N-Dubz singer Tulisa, McFly singer and songwriter Danny Jones, and Coronation Street’s Alan Halsall have all touched down in Sydney.
With the official line-up now announced, bookmakers have been looking ahead to their time in the jungle, giving out odds on who the favourite is to be King or Queen of the Jungle.
Last year’s champion turned out to be former Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson, who took the title from the runner-up, former boxer Tony Bellew.
So, what do bookmakers Coral think of the line up with Ant and Dec just days away from welcoming a new set of campmates?
Danny Jones
McFly singer-songwriter Danny Jones is aiming to become the second member of the band to be named King of the Jungle after Dougie Poynter reigned supreme in 2011.
Tom Fletcher, who sang and wrote with Danny in the chart-topping band, briefly appeared in the jungle but only as a special guest, dressed as a gorilla.
Danny is currently the early 4/1 favourite to win the competition according to Coral, with the bookmaker fancying him to repeat Dougie’s feat of 13 years ago.
If he does win, that will mean Tom will be the only member of the band to not win one of the major celebrity reality competitions – Harry Judd won Strictly Come Dancing in 2011.
However, Tom’s wife Giovanna Fletcher was crowned Queen of the Castle when I’m a Celebrity moved to Wales during the Covid-19 pandemic in November 2020.
It’s safe to say that the immediate and extended McFly family knows what it’s doing when it comes to reality competitions on primetime TV.
Coleen Rooney
TV personality, businesswoman, wife to former England footballer Wayne Rooney, Coleen Rooney is a huge get for ITV this year – and it seems it’s going to be worth her while.
Of course, given her status as one of the most high profile wives and girlfriends (WAGs) of the 2000s England team, having her in the jungle is nothing short of iconic.
But the 2019 Wagatha Christie scandal, and subsequent legal battles with fellow media personality and WAG Rebekah Vardy, put her back on the front pages.
She’s the early second favourite to win the competition at just 5/1 with bookmaker Coral, who see Coleen going far in this year’s series.
If she does win, she’ll be the first footballer’s wife to be Queen of the Jungle, with previous entrants Alex Best (ex-wife of George Best) and Rebekah herself both being eliminated before the final in years gone by.
The media will definitely be watching closely to see if Coleen had any gossip to reveal about the Wagatha Christie case and her long marriage to her teenage sweetheart Wayne.
Alan Halsall
Coronation Street’s Alan Halsall is trading the famous Weatherfield cobbles for the I’m a Celebrity campsite as he prepares to join the cast of 2024.
The actor has played Tyrone Dobbs since November 1998 and has appeared in literally thousands of episodes of the long-running Manchester soap opera.
And he’s not the first to briefly ditch the Rovers Return for a trip Down Under, with actors Sue Cleaver and Andy Whyment both having appeared in the jungle before.
Sue, who plays Eileen Grimshaw on the ITV soap opera, appeared on the 2022 series and eventually finished ninth after spending 16 days in the camp.
Three years earlier, Andy Whyment had made it all the way to the I’m a Celebrity final, eventually finishing second behind Queen of the Jungle, Jacqueline Jossa.
Alan is also 5/1 with Coral, meaning that he’s close behind favourite Danny Jones and very much level with Coleen Rooney when it comes down to who’ll take the crown.
Dean McCullough
Northern Irish radio presenter Dean McCullough is next up in the list of favourites, with the Radio 1 DJ aiming to repeat the feats of radio star Tony Blackburn, who won the first ever I’m a Celeb series.
Throughout the years in the jungle since Tony’s first-year victory, many radio DJs and presenters have entered the camp, with no crown for any of them.
Mike Read was the first to be eliminated back in 2004, Lisa Snowden and Danny Baker both went out early in 2016, while Noel Edmonds went home first despite arriving late into the jungle in 2018.
In recent years, however, radio DJs have got closer and closer to the title. Roman Kemp finished 3rd in 2019, while Jordan North and Vernon Kay finished 2nd and 3rd in 2020.
All-star spin-off series I’m a Celebrity South Africa was won by Myleene Klass, who just pipped runner-up Jordan Banjo to be crowned Queen of the Desert.
Dean is currently sitting at 6/1 with Coral, which isn’t far behind favourite Danny Jones – a strong start could set him up well for the rest of the series.
GK Barry
I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here is older than all of YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, which means a new type of celebrity has entered the running in recent years: streamers and influencers.
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GK Barry rose to fame on TikTok during the Covid-19 pandemic – even prioritising her TikTok channel over her final exams in her last year of university. That’s dedication!
Her decision seems to have been justified, with GK appearing on several podcasts since 2022, as well as guesting on ITV shows like Love Island: Aftersun and Loose Women.
She’s also appeared on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel and CelebAbility, as well as special celebrity versions of long-running quiz series The Weakest Link.
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GK is currently 7-1 with Coral, meaning that she’s among the five favourites but will need to make a good first impression to boost her chances of winning.
I'm a Celebrity - full line-up Coral odds 2024
4-1 Danny Jones
5-1 Coleen Rooney
5-1 Alan Halsall
6-1 Dean McCullough
7-1 GK Barry
10-1 Oti Mabuse
10-1 Melvin Odoom
12-1 Tulisa Contostavlos
20-1 Jane Moore
20-1 Barry McGuigan
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