Here are some photos of Abergele as we prepare to host I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! for the second time at Gwrych Castle in November 2021.
Also, be sure to check out photographer Niall McDiarmid‘s exhibition Celebrity Town at Oriel Colwyn. Some of our town’s residents are given the celebrity treatment by Niall and we get to see them and read their stories. Oriel Colwyn’s curator Paul Sampson teamed up with photographer to search out and highlight some of the local businesses, people and personalities of ‘Celebrity Town’. The website says: “the series of photographic portraits produced really does only just scratch beneath the surface of the town. It shows that if we look, there is celebrity in us all. ”
As you’ll probably be able to tell, the following photos aren’t by Niall McDiarmid; I took them with my phone in Abergele in this week before the live programmes begin…
Abergele’s George and Dragon pub with I’m a Celebrity posterAJ Abergele promoting I’m a Celebrity
The popular new Gwrych Castle shop in Abergele. This is where Barclay’s Bank used to be.
View of I’m a Celebrity production village in Abergele, taken from the road from town to the Golf Club.
Another view with a glimpse of I’m a Celebrity production village in Abergele with Gwrych Castle in the background. It shows how close the production is to the sea.
I’m a Celebrity in Abergele Gwrych Castle has meant there’s a palpable buzz in our town. And this might not be the end of Gwrych Castle’s connection with I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! internationally if local rumours are to be believed…
I’m a Celebrity mural by Mr Drew on the wall of Ivy’s flower shop Chapel St, Abergele.
I spoke with Denise Marsden and Alan Alexander at Ivy’s Florist, Chapel St, when my wife was buying flowers there yesterday. I took this photo of the mural by Mr Drew on the wall of the shop.
Denise says the attention the programme is bringing to Abergele is fantastic.
Alan Alexander let me know about some of the stories going around Abergele about the series. It’s rumoured that, if this series goes well, a return to Gwrych Castle could be on the cards in 2022, after returning to Australia next year, all being well.
Even before then, we could see the German version of the programme coming from Abergele, if rumours are to be believed. That would be such an extra boost for our town.
Apart from Ant and Dec, there are 450-500 people associated with the production of I’m a Celebrity at Gwrych Castle in November 2020. It’s no wonder it’s so difficult to find a vacant hotel, B&B or Airbnb nearby!
Phil Jackson oil paining of Gwrych Castle, Abergele.
Phil says: “I have been doing these paintings during lockdown. I live in Abergele, very close to the castle. This has been the main motivation for me. Then when I heard about ‘I’m a Celebrity Get me out of here’ coming I had another big motivation.”
The contestants this year are:
AJ Pritchard Former Strictly Come Dancing professional
Beverley Callard Coronation Street actress
Giovanna Fletcher Author, presenter and blogger
Hollie Arnold MBE Paralympic javelin thrower
Jessica Plummer Former EastEnders actress and Neon Jungle singer
Jordan North BBC Radio 1 presenter
Sir Mo Farah CBE OLY Olympic long-distance runner and track athlete
Shane Richie Stage and screen actor
Vernon Kay Television and radio presenter
Victoria Derbyshire Journalist and television presenter
Let us know who you think will be crowned this year’s King or Queen of the Castle in the Comments below.
Full disclosure: the link to the painting on eBay is an affiliate link.
