I’m A Celebrity: Workforce descend to reinforce Gwrych Castle after stormy weather

Buses, vans and cars were seen bringing workers to the I’m A Celebrity camp on Monday after it was battered by heavy rain.

The show’s producers are said to be making contingency plans if the weather gets too bad after the Met Office confirmed 5.8mm of rain fell nearby yesterday as the show started compared to 18.8mm last week.

The workers today are thought to be reinforcing the structures in place as the storms hit the castle which is the show’s new home after relocating from Australia due to the coronavirus pandemic.    

Emergency plans: Buses, vans and cars were seen bringing workers to the I’m A Celebrity camp on Monday after it was battered by heavy rain

Gwrych Castle, where the celebrities are staying, is already said to have been battered with 50mph winds and heavy rain, with more forecast later this week.

Producers had already prepared for bad conditions in Wales but, according to The Sun, the crew have found the weather ‘far worse than expected’.

The publication reports that a temporary canopy was set up over the main site but proved to be inadequate when filming began.

Further back up plans are now being quickly drawn up which are said to include a separate place to relocate the celebrities if the weather becomes too harsh. 

Stormy weather: The show’s producers are said to be making contingency plans if the weather gets too bad after the Met Office confirmed 5.8mm of rain fell nearby yesterday

Stormy weather: The show’s producers are said to be making contingency plans if the weather gets too bad after the Met Office confirmed 5.8mm of rain fell nearby yesterday

A source said: ‘We knew it could be wet, but hadn’t really planned for anything like this. The crew don’t even want to leave their cabins. It’s completely bleak and we’re having to step up our contingency plans.

‘Now, if things start to become too much to cope with, there is a place off camera where they can temporarily move the celebrities if filming just becomes impossible.

‘It’s already clear the canopy over the camp is going to struggle to keep the elements out, and a lot of the trials and other parts of the show are due to be shot outside anyway so the campmates are going to get completely soaked.’

Battered: Gwrych Castle, where the celebrities are staying, is already said to have been battered with 50mph winds and heavy rain, with more forecast later this week

Battered: Gwrych Castle, where the celebrities are staying, is already said to have been battered with 50mph winds and heavy rain, with more forecast later this week

Workmen: The workers today are thought to be reinforcing the structures in place as the storms hit the castle which is the show’s new home

Workmen: The workers today are thought to be reinforcing the structures in place as the storms hit the castle which is the show’s new home

The source added the celebrities have been given waterproof clothing and if needed, they will be temporarily taken off camp to dry off. 

A representative for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! told MailOnline: ‘We have contingency plans to cover all eventualities where the weather is concerned.’

Meanwhile more than 500 workmen-a-day toiled on the I’m A Celebrity camp to get it ready for the show’s launch, Mailonline can reveal.

Back up: Further back up plans are now being quickly drawn up which are said to include a separate place to relocate the celebrities if the weather becomes too harsh

Back up: Further back up plans are now being quickly drawn up which are said to include a separate place to relocate the celebrities if the weather becomes too harsh

A huge army of builders, engineers, electricians and welders worked each day to get the dilapidated Welsh castle ready for Ant and Dec and the celebrity campmates.

The workers also included plumbers and security who worked for months at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, North Wales.

The ITV show even had to get planning permission from Conway Council to make alterations to the Grade I listed 19th century castle. 

Cerys Hughes, 44, said: ‘They have had so many people coming and going.

New home: A huge army of builders, engineers, electricians and welders worked each day to get the dilapidated Welsh castle ready for Ant and Dec and the celebrity campmates

New home: A huge army of builders, engineers, electricians and welders worked each day to get the dilapidated Welsh castle ready for Ant and Dec and the celebrity campmates

‘But it was in a terrible state. Travellers took it over years ago and stripped it of everything and made a right mess.

‘It never really recovered and lots of it had to be sealed off to the public apart from the gardens as it wasn’t safe.

‘But I’m A Celebrity is helping to save the castle which is great.’

The town’s mayor Alan Hunter told Mailonline: ‘The show asked lots of local firms to help on the work which was a big boost for employment.

‘They also made a planning application as it is a listed building. Any work or alterations had to get permission which they did.’ 

Winter gear:The source added the celebrities have been given waterproof clothing and if needed, they will be temporarily taken off camp to dry off

Winter gear:The source added the celebrities have been given waterproof clothing and if needed, they will be temporarily taken off camp to dry off