The countdown is officially on until the return of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!. The jungle reality show, hosted once again by Ant and Dec, will premiere on Sunday 19 November – and looks set to be another huge ratings success for ITV.
Last year, millions of viewers tuned in to see Gogglebox favourite Scarlett Moffatt crowned the Queen of the Jungle; the star returned Down Under earlier this week, ready for her new presenting role on spin-off show, Extra Camp. But which celebrities will be taking on the dreaded Bushtucker Trials this year?
Speculation as to who has signed up for the 2017 series have been rife in recent weeks, with a number of famous faces already linked to the show, from singers to reality stars and even a politician. As the starting date edges closer, HELLO! Online takes a look at the rumoured line-up for the upcoming TV favourite…
Jennie McAlpine
Coronation Street favourite Jennie McAlpine is hotly tipped to be heading into the jungle. The 33-year-old actress, who plays Fizz Brown in the ITV soap, is said to have been on the show’s wish list for some time now, and Corrie bosses have reportedly rescheduled filming for Fizz's storyline to allow the star to take part in the competition.
Yes, really! Despite her disastrous appearance on the show in 2014, which lasted just three days, TOWIE star Gemma Collins is reportedly set to give the jungle another go. And host Declan Donnelly is said to be fully behind the idea. "He thought she was really good [last time she was on]," an insider told the Sun. "And he told Gemma she would be great if she came back to the show." What’s more, Gemma seemed to drop a big hint on Instagram this week, sharing a photo of her Louis Vuitton luggage, along with the caption: "Always on the move."
Tennis star Boris Becker has also been linked to this year’s series. The 49-year-old sportsman is said to be in talks with show bosses over joining the jungle camp, with insiders saying that he would be a "brilliant signing". Boris wouldn’t be the first Wimbledon champion to take part – fellow tennis legend Martina Navratilova took part in the series in 2008, eventually finishing runner-up to former EastEnders star-turned-Extra Camp host Joe Swash.
Former rugby player Ben Cohen is hotly tipped to take part in this year's show. According to reports, he originally turned down a stint in the jungle in favour of Strictly, where he met his partner Kristina Rihanoff, and now I'm A Celeb bosses are keen to get him on board for the 2017 series. "Ben's name was straight on the list for this year," an insider told the Sun. "He is popular with viewers as his Strictly stint showed, and appeals to sports fans."
Georgia Toffolo
Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo is said to be gearing up for a stay in the jungle. The 22-year-old reality star recently appeared on Celebs Go Dating, and now seems ready for a brand new challenge. "Georgia has been signed up by ITV and will be the jungle's bikini babe this year," a source told the Sun. "And ITV has changed its policy on not having reality stars on the show as last year they didn't have any."
Calum Best
Calum Best is no stranger to the world of reality TV, having appeared in the likes of Celebrity Love Island, Come Dine With Me, Celebrity Big Brother and Celebs Go Dating. The 36-year-old model is the son of George and Angie Best and will no doubt prove popular with female fans of the show.
Craig Charles
The new series could see the return of Red Dwarf actor Craig Charles, who was forced to leave the 2014 competition following the death of his brother, Dean. According to reports, the ITV team is hoping that the Coronation Street star will return to the jungle, with a source saying: "He was a popular camp mate in the short time he was in, and bosses know he would have been a great contestant if he'd stayed on the show."
Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas is also rumoured to be heading into the jungle. The 42-year-old, who was previously married to Corrie's Kym Marsh, has been tipped to be a favourite with female campmates, with a source telling the Sun: "Jamie is a good-looking single guy so they are hoping sparks will fly with one of the single girls in the camp. There will be plenty of gorgeous girls in there he could end up hitting it off with. And the bosses know viewers love a jungle romance. Jamie is a really down-to-earth, funny bloke but also doesn't suffer fools. So they think he's a great signing."
Lauren Goodger
Former TOWIE star Lauren Goodger could be making her jungle debut this year. The 31-year-old – previously engaged to Mark Wright – is no stranger to reality shows; she took part in the eighth series of Dancing on Ice in 2013 and has also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in the past.
Megan McKenna
Reality star Megan McKenna is hotly tipped to be heading into the jungle. The 24-year-old has previously appeared in shows including Ex on the Beach and Celebrity Big Brother, and recently branched out into country music, causing a stir with her debut single, High Heeled Shoes, which beat the likes of Pink and Taylor Swift to land the number one spot on iTunes.
Rebekah Vardy is one of the favourites to enter the I'm A Celeb jungle this year. The mum-of-four – married to footballer Jamie Vardy - has a legion of followers thanks to her open and honest nature; earlier this year she spoke candidly about her experience of post-natal depression, and received wide-spread praise when she showed her 'mum tum' in a photograph.
Having watched his brother's successful appearance on I'm A Celeb, Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas is said to be keen to head into the jungle. The star – whose younger sibling Adam Thomas came third in last year's series – is certainly be well prepped for the show; earlier this year he filmed Channel 4's Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls. And he is already perfect located for the show; earlier this Ryan relocated to Australia for his new acting role in Neighbours.
Paisley Billings
Best known for her appearances on Tattoo Fixers and Celebs Go Dating, Paisley Billings is also tipped to head into the jungle. A source told the Mirror: "Paisley has been doing amazingly well on E4 and is set to be the next Scarlett Moffatt, if not bigger.
"Paisley has a fantastic strong personality and she wasn't tipped to do well at the start of Tattoo Fixers but has done well as the only star on the show to do so many other shows. Producers of the show I Am A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here are talking and think if they put Paisley in the show she could go down a storm and possibly win it."
Vanessa White
Saturdays star Vanessa White is said to be heading into the I'm A Celeb jungle following her split from long-term boyfriend Gary Salter in April. A source close to the star told the Sun: "Vanessa is a stunning girl from a massive girl band, so she's an exciting first signing for I'm A Celebrity. The bosses are super keen to have her."
Could Ed Balls be swapping the ballroom for Bushtucker trials?! The former politician, who competed in Strictly Come Dancing last year, is one of the favourites to enter the jungle this year, although he'd have to overcome one of his greatest fears – rats. Speaking earlier this year at the Hay Literature Festival, Ed, 50, said: "My dad's a scientist and when I was three in his lab at the University of East Anglia, I put my finger into a cage and got bitten by a rat. And ever since then, a morbid fear of rats has ruled out any reality shows with rodents."
Jonny Mitchell
Another reality star linked to the 2017 series is Love Island's Jonny Mitchell. A show insider previously said: "Bosses said he would be the perfect hunk for the show and have asked him to come for a meeting. Obviously he's over the moon and would jump at the chance. He sparked controversy in the villa and if he did the same in the jungle it would make excellent telly viewing – especially if there was a romance." A spokesperson for the 26-year-old said in August: "He's been in talks at ITV recently, but I can't confirm anything else."
Sam Allardyce
Former England manager Sam Allardyce is said to have been offered a six-figure sum to take part in the show. The 63-year-old is said to be in talks with I'm A Celeb bosses to join the 17th series of the show, with an insider adding: "They are absolutely sure he would be a fantastic character to have in the jungle."
Sandra Martin
Gogglebox star Sandra Martin hinted that has signed up for I'm A Celebrity earlier this year. The TV favourite, who has now left Gogglebox, told the Mail: "I am going to earning big money this year. I got a contract with a big TV show, I am not allowed to talk about it. When I was on Gogglebox, I could only work for them. But everyone wants me now that I have left."