THE jungle drums are beating once again for the latest series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Stars including Shane Richie and former Strictly dancer AJ Pritchard are braving the wilderness of a Welsh castle - rather than the Australian jungle - as the hit ITV reality show adapts to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is series 20 of the ratings winner and it seems an eternity since former Colchester schoolboy Darren Day flew to Oz to compete in the very first series, in 2002.

The 52-year-old actor and TV presenter was one of eight celebrities plunged into the jungle and he was the third voted out by the public, following spoon-bending psychic Uri Geller and boxer Nigel Benn.

He lasted 11 days and during his time Down Under the spotlight shone on his relationship with socialite and model Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.

The pair rowed after he appeared to reject her advances and there she had a wry smile on her face when news of the vote was announced by hosts Ant and Dec.

After his dismissal, Darren, who made his name on the West End stage, starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, told show the Geordie pair: "It's a bit gutting to have the least amount of votes but I'm a bit relieved to get out of there. In all honesty, it's been a lot tougher than I thought it would be."

Legendary DJ Tony Blackburn won the first series, which was broadcast from August 25 to September 8, 2002.

Miss Palmer-Tomkinson was runner-up and they were followed by Christine Hamilton, Nell McAndrew and Rhona Cameron.

Series one was filmed on a small site at King Ranch near Tully, Queensland.

Ever since the camp has been in New South Wales.