Stars who turned down I'm A Celeb from Piers Morgan's feud to 'busy' soap icon

After a year away, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! will make it's highly anticipated return to screens on Sunday night (November 19).

The hit ITV show which sees a group of famous faces take on a number of gruesome challenges in the Australian jungle has kept fans across the globe entertained throughout the years. And with the likes of Nigel Farage and Josie Gibson entering the camp this year, fans have been left excited (and divided).

But for some celebs, the prospect of going into the jungle is something they would never consider to do. Despite being offered a huge cash sum, there are some celebrities that have refused the offer.

Daily Star has taken a look at the celebs who turned down an appearance on the ITV show and the reason why.

Lisa Riley

Emmerdale star Lisa Riley revealed she's been approached to join the show on a number of occasions. The actress who plays Mandy Dingle in the long-running soap said she's asked every year but due to her busy work schedule, she's forced to decline the offer.

Talking about the money aspect of it all, Lisa admitted that she is often offered a huge wad of cash for her time. And she admitted to finding the fee "flattering."

Speaking to Prima, she previously said: "They do ask me every year. The fee is insane…it is flattering. But I did say this is utter baloney. I’m too busy working," she added.

However, she recently revealed she'd be open to the show. She told Daily Star: "Maybe if there was a milestone like my 50th. Then maybe."

Judge Rinder

Television personality Judge Robert Rinder ruled an appearance on I'm A Celeb as he appeared to turn his back on reality television. The star previously showcased his dance skills on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 but claims that's as far he would go.

Speaking openly he said: "I only did Strictly because that was completely different and because dancing was my love. You won’t see me devouring kangaroo b****cks."

Since his Strictly days, Robert's career has taken new heights. He previously appeared on Gogglebox with Susanna Reid and also hosted Good Morning Britain alongside the news anchor last year.

Piers Morgan

Outspoken presenter Piers Morgan has also refused to take part in I'm A Celeb. The 58-year-old previously admitted to being offered "lots of money" for the stint but has declined the offer.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain back in 2017, he said: "I’ve been offered lots of money for these things. To go and eat bugs.

"They say 'Hey, do you want to go to a jungle in Australia and eat kangaroo testicles as Ant and Dec mock you'. No thanks."

In 2022, Piers publicly shut down the proposition again when hosts Ant & Dec said they would love to see him on the show. Jumping onto X formerly known as Twitter, Piers said: "Thanks lads @antanddec but on balance I’d rather eat my own testicles."

Chris Kamara

Football legend Chris Kamara ruled out an appearance on the hit ITV show. However, he later confessed that he regretted turning the opportunity down.

Chris revealed he had been offered a chance to appear on the show but due to work commitments, he had to give it a pass. He said at the time: "I've got a Christmas album to promote"– referring to his album Here's To Christmas which was released in 2019.

The TV star also revealed on social media in 2015 that he had previously been approached to be on the show but explained he "can’t get the time off in the footy season." However, due to a drastic change in his health, Chris said he now regrets turning his back on I'm A Celeb.

The presenter has apraxia, a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult to speak. Sharing his thoughts on joining the show now, he said: "I always turned the jungle down because of my commitment to Soccer Saturday and Goals on Sunday."

He added: "Neither my body nor mind could cope. I couldn’t face hearing the words, 'Chris Kamara is exempt from this task due to health issues.' No chance. It’s a big regret."

Gloria Hunniford

Loose Women star Gloria Hunniford, 83, admitted that she did consider the opportunity from ITV. Speaking to her Loose Women co-stars in 2019, Gloria said she changed her mind when she was given more details on the show.

She said: "In one way I wanted to challenge myself, but when they were really honest with me and told me what it was like, I thought well. I’m allergic to mosquitoes really badly, I’m a hospital case with that.

"I could do without the food I think…I don’t think I could do all the picking up of wood with my dodgy knee. I don’t think I could do the snake bit, and I certainly couldn’t eat a pig’s brain."

James Arthur

In 2016, X Factor winner James Arthur turned down both Celebrity Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity. The reason for his refusal was to focus on his music career.

He previously told Daily Star: "I got offered loads of reality shows including I’m a Celebrity and Celebrity Big Brother. They were life-changing amounts of money.

"The most I got offered was £250,000 for CBB, which I really needed at the time, not knowing if I had a career. I'm a huge fan of those shows but I don’t think there’s any chance I would be back at No. 1 now if I’d gone down that route."

Julie Goodyear

Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear reportedly turned down the I'm A Celeb offer due to being unable to smoke on the 23-hour flight to Australia. Reports also claimed that she was willing to take a 40-hour boat trip to ensure she was guaranteed a cig break.

The matter was revealed in former TV producer Lisa Mary London's book where she dished the dirt on some of the biggest industry secrets. In the book she wrote: "Soap legend Julie Goodyear frustrated me when she rang in person to say she'd love to do the show if we could get her to Australia by boat.

Lisa then added that the flight was far too long for Julie. She added: "A 23-hour flight without frequent cigarette breaks was out of the question for the chain-smoking soap diva."

Warwick Davis

Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis was adamant that he would not take part in the show. So much so, that he refused the offer before they told him how much they were willing to pay him.

He previously said: "I get asked to do a lot of reality shows.. I love watching them but they don’t appeal to me as a performer.

"I’m A Celebrity got in touch. But I didn’t even find out what I would be getting paid."

I’m A Celebrity starts on Sunday night at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.

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