I’m A Celebrity bosses are set to ‘stop flying out the friends and family members of contestants’

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! bosses are allegedly set to stop flying friends and family members of contestants to the jungle. 

The hit ITV show has been approved to come back to screens in November and contestants will be allowed to go to Australia to live in the jungle. 

However, sources have revealed that the company will no longer be spending £100,000 to fly relatives and friends over to greet contestants after they leave the show. 

In the past the production team has paid for business-class flights to and from Australia and a seven-night stay at the Palazzo Versace hotel in Surfers Paradise. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Having no friends or family flown out will be a big blow to celebrities.

‘Producers have even involved them in recent years by taking them into the jungle in the final days to create heartfelt scenes.

‘There are early plans to film video calls to capture celebs having their first chats with loved ones.’

It is unclear whether family and friends will be allowed to pay for their own flights to the jungle if they wish. 

Recent reports have suggested that ITV has been cutting costs after ad revenue fell because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment. 

Earlier in the year, ITV were said to be having crisis talks to determine whether this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity could still go ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic.

I’m A Celebrity premiered in 2002 and has been a success every since, averaging more than 10million viewers per episode.  

Last year’s finale, which saw former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa crowned Queen of the Jungle, was the most watched TV show of 2019.

Jacqueline beat out Coronation Street star Andy Whyment and presenter Roman Kemp in the final.

Other well-known stars who took part in the most recent series included reality star Caitlyn Jenner, Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle and Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway.