I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! has partially closed a golf club in an attempt to deter ‘nosy fans’ from sneaking onto their set, it has been reported.
Ahead of the show starting, players at Abergele Golf Club in Wales have been told the course will only be open to members for a month from November 7.
It is thought that anyone hoping for a £40 round of ‘pay and play’ will be turned away during this time to try and ensure privacy for the ITV show, reports The Sun.
Claims: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! has reportedly partially closed a golf club near their filming location in an attempt to deter ‘nosy fans’ from sneaking onto set (presenters Ant and Dec pictured in a trailer for the show)
A source said: ‘It is control who is on the course and stop nosy fans booking a slot to play golf and going off through the undergrowth and having a nose around the set.
‘By only allowing members, the club can control who is on the course and the committee will know that its paying members won’t do anything untoward.’
While a post shared on Abergele Golf Club’s Facebook page last Friday announced it was partially closing for a month-long stretch starting in November.
Although revealing the change to members only, the club did not elaborate on the reasons behind the new rules.
Location: This year’s series will be filmed at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, which is a mile away from the golf course
They wrote: ‘Please note that Abergele Golf Club will be temporarily closed to all golfing visitors for the period Saturday November 7th to Saturday 5th December. Members will still be able to play as usual during this time.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for I’m A Celebrity and Abergele Golf Club for a comment.
Abergele Golf Club has 18-holes and offers a platinum annual membership fee of £730 for dedicated golfers.
The club has already marked the impending arrival of their new neighbours, saying in September there’s a special offer of a free round of golf for anyone called Ant or Dec.
News: Last Friday, Abergele Golf Club announced to its members that the course will only be open to members from November 7th to December 5th, with a source claiming this was due to the I’m A Celeb filming nearby
Stuart Runcie, Advanced PGA Professional Golfer at the club, previously discussed just how close the castle site – a mere one-mile away- is to the course.
He told the Rhyl Journal: ‘With the show being right next door, we have the perfect spot for celebrity viewing.
‘We’ll often sit on our terraced bar and look out to the road and see lots of activity at the castle.’
It comes after the real Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly get lost trying to find their way to Gwrych Castle in North Wales in the brand new trailer for I’m A Celebrity.
Confused: Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly get lost trying to find their way to Gwrych Castle in North Wales in the brand new trailer for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
The presenting duo are seen walking down a country road with a map before they come across ‘Kiosk Kev’ who they quickly ask for help.
Rushing into the phone booth, Ant, 44, says to Kev: ‘Hello Kev, we’re on the way to camp but we’re a bit lost…Yeah, yeah. OK, thanks very much for your help Kev.’
Dec, 45, asks Ant what Kev said, who tells him if they want to find their way to camp, they’re going to have to answer a question.
Ant replies: ‘He said,”According to a recent survey, what percent of people stay in their pyjamas all day on the weekends? Is it A, 23 per cent, or B, 39 per cent?” ‘
Disappointed, Dec sighs: ‘Ah!… My gut says 23 per cent,’ before the pair head back on their journey toward the castle.
Kiosk Kev is the man in charge of the Outback Shack in the ITV series, having joined the show in 2019 when he replaced Kiosk Keith.
Help! The presenting duo are seen walking down a country road with a map before they come across ‘Kiosk Kev’ who they ask for help
First look: ITV dropped the first teaser for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2020 earlier this month, with a very different look to usual proceedings
The series will take place at Gwrych Castle rather than its usual New South Wales location Down Under. The promo was filmed on location in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire.
It’s been claimed that show bosses are holding talks behind-the-scenes regarding what happens if lockdown restrictions change once again, while the series is mid-production.
‘It has been a huge concern to the casting team as well as producers,’ a source told The Mirror. ‘The possibility of postponing the series and rescheduling to early next year was given due consideration.
‘But rescheduling isn’t a viable option as the casting involves set dates in contracts for talent.
Not in Oz anymore! While the hosts are often seen in the first trailer of the upcoming series stalking through the outback in jungle garb, there’s none of that this year, as the show will take place in Wales on account of COVID-19
‘A contingency plan is being put into place but it’s unlikely they will be able to postpone to 2021. In the worst-case scenario this year’s series will have to be cancelled.’
MailOnline has approached reps for comment.
It was also reported that the endurance reality show could be filmed in the UK for another two years if the pandemic restrictions remain in place.
Producers have had ‘informal’ talks with the castle’s owners about availability at the location until 2022 in case the show can’t move back to Oz, reported The Sun.
It is thought that producers are worried how the show will be impacted if travel restrictions are still in place on the team relocating to Australia.
Production could also be hit by any local lockdowns in Murwillumbah or guidelines brought in back home in the UK.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! will start on ITV in November.
Different views: The show will certainly be different as the stars swap the outback for Wales in the upcoming series, set to return in November (Ant and Dec pictured in Oz in 2019)