Paul Burrell takes on his first trial on I’m A Celebrity All Stars
Paul Burrell takes an unwelcome trip down memory lane as he tackles his first trial on the upcoming I’m A Celebrity… South Africa.
The former royal butler, 64, echoes his shocked expressions from 19 years ago as he got stuck in a challenge in the new All Stars series.
Paul takes his position on Monday’s debut episode and jokes, “How wonderful for the first challenge of sticking my hand in a hole.”
The author – who first competed on I’m a Celeb in 2004 – and his fellow camp mates suffer from sinking rafts, marauding rats and terrifying canyons in the first episode.
Famous faces like Carol Vorderman, Helen Flanagan and Shaun Ryder will return to the jungle on April 24.
Gasp: Paul Burrell takes an unwelcome trip down memory lane as he tackles his first stage on the upcoming I’m A Celebrity… South Africa (pictured, right, in 2004)
The show kicks off on Monday 24 April and will be broadcast on weekdays for three weeks, with the final week clashing with the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May.
The ITV Press Center posted on Twitter: “Confirmed: I’m a celebrity… South Africa starts Monday 24 April at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.”
A host of stars from the series have been revealed so far, including boxer Amir Khan, 36, former Coronation Street star Helen, 32, and TV presenter Carol, 62.
They will be joined by Paul, 64, former butler to the late Princess Diana, Diversity dancer Jordan Banjo, 30, Happy Mondays star Shaun, 60, retired javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread, 62, and former England international cricketer Phil Tufnell, 56.
The sun reports that Gillian McKeith, 63, Dean Gaffney, 45, Joe Swash, 41, Andy Whyment, 42, Myleene Klass, 45, and Georgia Toffolo, 28, will arrive at camp later in the series.
The new series sees the return of some of I’m A Celebrity’s most memorable campmates…Get Me Out Of Here! in the brand new setting of South Africa.
The challenges will be bigger and more difficult and the environment tougher and more unforgiving than the usual Australian jungle.
With no public vote, they will compete against each other in a battle to become the first-ever I’m A Celebrity Legend.
Funny: Paul takes his position on Monday’s debut episode and jokes: ‘How wonderful for the first challenge to put my hand in a hole’
Watch closely: the show kicks off on Monday 24 April and will air on weekdays for three weeks, with the final week clashing with the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals on Tuesday 9 May and Thursday 11 May
Throwback: The author first competed on I’m a Celeb in 2004
It follows that Paul was left heartbroken after a crew member lost his wedding ring while filming the very first I’m A Celebrity All Star series.
The former royal Butler was reportedly advised to remove the gold belt, estimated to be worth £10,000, before taking part in a Bushtucker trial.
Paul, who worked alongside Diana, Princess of Wales for ten years until her death in 1997 and was a confidante, wept with joy when he married his ‘soulmate’ Graham Cooper in 2017.
The couple opted for gold wedding bands, but Paul’s went missing and the ITV crew couldn’t find its whereabouts after the trial ended.
A source told The sun: “The ring was thought to be stashed in the production office, but was nowhere to be seen.
“The production agent who lost the ring cried.
“He felt terrible and went home because he couldn’t concentrate and felt he had let Paul down.”
ITV declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Paul’s representatives have been contacted for comment.
Annoying: It follows that Paul was left heartbroken after a crew member lost his wedding ring while filming the first-ever I’m A Celebrity All Star series (pictured with husband Graham)
Close friends: Paul worked alongside and was a confidante of Diana, Princess of Wales for ten years until her tragic death (pictured in 1997)
Paul was previously married to Maria Cosgrove, the mother of his two adult sons, but the couple announced their separation in 2016 after living separately for years.
After his gay ceremony with Graham, Paul said: ‘Everything about the day was perfect, made even more beautiful by the fact that my two sons were here to share the occasion.
My unbridled happiness can now no longer be hidden. Life is about being true to who you are and for the very first time I can proudly stand next to my husband and say, ‘This is who I am.’
Paul revealed earlier this year that his appearance on I’m A Celebrity South Africa led to his prostate cancer diagnosis.
Talking about how he found out on the Lorraine show, Paul shared how routine health tests were done prior to completing the show and his GP was concerned about the results.
After landing back in the UK from Kruger National Park in northeastern South Africa, he underwent an MRI scan and a biopsy. Then he was told that he would fight the disease.
Paul was the runner-up of the fourth series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2004.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa starts Monday at 9pm on ITV.
Brave man: The former royal butler was diagnosed with prostate cancer last summer and only found out after taking part in a number of routine health checks prior to entering the show
Star royalty: Paul is part of a lineup of eight famous faces, including Shaun Ryder (pictured center) and Janice Dickinson (pictured right) who have all taken part in the challenge show)