I’m A Celebrity 2020: EastEnders’ Shane Richie ‘becomes the latest start to sign up for new series’

Shane Richie has reportedly become the latest star to sign up for the new series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

According to The Sun, the EastEnders actor, 56, has agreed to take part in the upcoming series and will now go into isolation for two weeks before it starts next month. 

An insider told the publication Shane decided this year would be perfect to take part as he has less work responsibilities due to Covid-19 and the show is taking place closer to home in North Wales. 

Line up: Shane Richie has reportedly become the latest star to sign up for the new series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 

A source said: ‘ITV have always wanted Shane for the jungle but with panto not happening this year and other work opportunities less likely, he decided this was the time to take the plunge. 

‘Going to North Wales is less of a huge commitment than flying halfway across the world, too, so he jumped at the chance. 

‘He’s already being talked about by production as an early favourite as he’s such a likeable bloke and known to millions of soap fans.’

The insider added that ITV are ‘delighted’ they’ve got the TV favourite to take part in the series.  

TV: Shane has reportedly agreed to take part in the upcoming series and will now go into isolation for two weeks before it starts next month (hosts Ant and Dec pictured)

TV: Shane has reportedly agreed to take part in the upcoming series and will now go into isolation for two weeks before it starts next month (hosts Ant and Dec pictured)

Shane is best known for his role as Alfie Moon on the BBC soap where he starred alongside Jessie Wallace, who played his wife Kat Slater.

Shane could be set to go far on I’m A Celebrity if the past performances of his EastEnders co-stars are anything to go by with Charlie Brooks, Joe Swash and Jacqueline Jossa all winning in years past. 

MailOnline has contacted representatives for ITV and Shane Richie for comment. 

It comes after Sir Mo Farah has reportedly negotiated a huge fee for his first reality TV appearance on I’m A Celebrity, with a new report suggests he’s being paid a whopping £300k fee. 

Famous face: Shane is best known for his role as Alfie Moon on the BBC soap where he starred alongside Jessie Wallace, who played his wife Kat Slater (pictured in 2018)

Famous face: Shane is best known for his role as Alfie Moon on the BBC soap where he starred alongside Jessie Wallace, who played his wife Kat Slater (pictured in 2018)

The huge pay packet would make the athlete the highest paid celeb on the 2020 series, according to The Sun, with ITV bosses said to be splashing out a huge £1million to secure top talent. 

‘The ITV executives were desperate to bag Mo and will have spent big to get their man,’ an insider said.

‘It’s a massive coup for producers to get Mo for the series. Everyone’s really excited about the signing and think he’ll be a hit with viewers.

‘It’s the first time he’s agreed to do anything like this, so it’ll be a massive draw for sports fans.’

Vernon Kay meanwhile is rumoured to be earning a £150k fee for the series while Coronation Street legend Bev Callard is on £125k.    

Winning! It comes after Sir Mo Farah has reportedly negotiated a huge fee for his first reality TV appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Winning! It comes after Sir Mo Farah has reportedly negotiated a huge fee for his first reality TV appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Opera singer Russell Watson is thought to be on £100k, EastEnders actor Jessica Plummer, West End star Ruthie Henshall and radio host Victoria Derbyshire are rumoured to have secured £75,000 each and athlete Holly Arnold and ex Strictly pro AJ Pritchard are earning £50k. 

Meanwhile I’m A Celeb presenters Ant and Dec will earn £12k a day through their jointly-owned presenting firm to host the three week show live from Wales.  

Double Olympic champion Mo, 37, was linked to the show on Tuesday and is  reportedly heading into isolation this week before swapping the running track for the ruins of Gwrych Castle in Wales.

Cash: The huge pay packet would make the athlete the highest paid celeb on the 2020 series, with ITV bosses said to be splashing out a huge £1million to secure top talent

Cash: The huge pay packet would make the athlete the highest paid celeb on the 2020 series, with ITV bosses said to be splashing out a huge £1million to secure top talent 

Contestant?  Vernon Kay meanwhile is rumoured to be earning a £150k fee for the series

Contestant?  Vernon Kay meanwhile is rumoured to be earning a £150k fee for the series

A source told The Sun: ‘Mo’s been a big fan of the show for years and was just waiting for the right time in his career to do it.

‘He obviously has an excellent level of fitness and mental focus so will be great at the Bushtucker Trials and will be a positive addition for keeping up team morale for campmates – especially as a lot of the celebs are worried how cold it will be.’

The insider went on to say that the athlete will no doubt be ‘nervous’ about his stint as it’ll be his first time doing reality TV and will be away from his family. 

The added that his time in the castle will an ‘amazing experience’ for him and the ‘opportunity of a lifetime.’ 

MailOnline have contacted representatives of Mo and I’m A Celebrity for comment. 

ITV favourite: Coronation Street legend Bev Callard is on £125k to head to the Welsh castle

ITV favourite: Coronation Street legend Bev Callard is on £125k to head to the Welsh castle 

New home: This year's series will be hosted at Gwyrch Castle in Wales after the coronavirus pandemic made it impossible to stage the popular show in Australia

New home: This year’s series will be hosted at Gwyrch Castle in Wales after the coronavirus pandemic made it impossible to stage the popular show in Australia

A host of stars were seen arriving at a photoshoot in London on Friday ahead of kicking off their two-week isolation period before filming starts in Wales.  

In the snaps all of the celebs were seen getting out of blacked-out vehicles while donning face masks which partially obscured their identities.

The stars all kept things casual for the apparent photoshoot, where they reportedly tried on their camp uniforms, and arrived in comfortable clothing such as jumpers and hoodies. 

I’m A Celebrity is set to return next month in the new location of Gwrych Castle in Abergele, North Wales, after it was forced to move from Australia to the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Different views: The show will certainly be different as the stars swap the outback for Wales in the upcoming series, set to return in November (Ant and Dec pictured in Oz in 2019)

Different views: The show will certainly be different as the stars swap the outback for Wales in the upcoming series, set to return in November (Ant and Dec pictured in Oz in 2019)