I’m a Celebrity in Abergele

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 Drew on the wall of Ivy's flower shop Chapel St, Abergele.
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!

Abergele artist Phil Jackson is selling original oil painings of Gwrych Castle and he says on this ebay page that a proportion of the sale will go to Gwrych Castle funds.

Phil Jackson oil paining of Gwrych Castle, Abergele.
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.

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