They’re celebrities... get them out of Wales! | Cheryl Gibbs

So along with everything else that 2020 has thrown our way, this year’s I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here is also very different, and the jury is still out as to whether I think they’ve pulled it off or not.
The new series of I'm a Celebrity... takes place at Gwrych Castle in Wales rather than the usual location in the Australian jungle due to coronavirus restrictions. Photo: ITV/PA WireThe new series of I'm a Celebrity... takes place at Gwrych Castle in Wales rather than the usual location in the Australian jungle due to coronavirus restrictions. Photo: ITV/PA Wire
The new series of I'm a Celebrity... takes place at Gwrych Castle in Wales rather than the usual location in the Australian jungle due to coronavirus restrictions. Photo: ITV/PA Wire

What do you think?

They’ve absolutely tried their best and presenters Ant and Dec are by far the best thing about the show (I say it every year, but it’s true).

Their continuing comments about this year’s show not being in Australia but being in Wales instead are very funny indeed and I think just gives the right amount of humour and lightness to the very dark and sad reason behind the change in production.

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Of course Covid- 19 has changed all of our lives, probably forever in some ways, and television, like everything and everyone else has been forced to adapt, so this year ITV has taken its hit show to a Welsh castle, but for me it just doesn’t have the same appeal.

Perhaps it’ s because a castle isn’t the same as an outback jungle, perhaps it’s because the sky is grey in Wales as opposed to blue and sunny in Australia, or maybe it just doesn’t have the same jeopardy .

I mean, this year they’re all sleeping in beds or hammocks in doors as opposed to being exposed to the elements.

Instead of them being in camps in the open, they’re inside, and it’s just all a bit gloomy. It doesn’t have the same visual appeal, but I totally can appreciate from a production point of view what they’ve tried to do and whoever is behind the new location has done well – they’ve absolutely done the best in impossible circumstances. I just hope they don’t continue with this location post Covid-world. H owever, they might, you know – the ratings on launch night – last Sunday – topped 12m, which is astronomical for TV viewing.

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We’re always so tired come the evening that we’re watching each episode a day late on repeat (I cannot stay up till 10pm to watch it live), and I admit to forwarding a lot of the actual content and pressing ‘play’ when it comes to Ant and Decs’ links.

I watch it for them – they’re worth every penny.

I miss Christmas shopping, it’s just not the same online

There are only five weeks until Christmas and I am not at all prepared.

By now I’ve usually bought most presents, having done many a shopping trip, but this year nothing, nada, and I need to get myself into gear.

But how can I when the only places really open are supermarkets, green grocers and Poundland? I know I could do online shopping, but it’s not the same is it? I loved the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and while it did used to get unnecessarily hectic and while the queues were crazy and everyone seemed stressed, it was all part of the fun – or at least for me.

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Christmas shopping will be another thing I’ll appreciate more in future, but for now I best get ordering online!

Pity the guest on GMB who hasn’t done their homework

I have got into the habit of switching on Good Morning Britain, purely to watch ‘Shouty and Pouty,’ aka Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid, deliver the morning news and discussion.

Piers is like Marmite, you either love him or hate him and I’m in the former camp. He’s brilliant, I like his presenting style because he holds his guests accountable. You do not want to go on his show if you’ve not down your homework because you can bet your bottom dollar that he – or his researchers – have. I don’t like it when he deliberately tries to provoke for provoking sake, I don’t see the point in just riling people up to get a reaction, but I do like him.

He too is part of ITV’s ‘must watch’ talent pool.

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