I’m A Celebrity’s Gwrych Castle is lit by flames as campmates make at dramatic arrival

Filming for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here is well underway, with campmates spotted making a dramatic arrival at North Wales’ Gwrych Castle on Friday night.

The string of cars were pictured heading towards the imposing country house which had been lit up with roaring flames.

Not quite making it to the front door, the vehicles reportedly stopped by a pair of large towers which had been erected specially for the ITV show.

Contestants were said to have been wearing red-and-yellow clothing with one unidentified star having been seen from a distance holding an oversized key token.

With dramatic red lights beaming against the castle, fire balls were shot into the air during the spellbinding challenge.

Every so often, the celebrities were said to have been heard cheering on their teammates during the exciting bonding exercise.

The stars earlier embarked on their first terrifying challenge as they were seen hanging above an abandoned quarry during the Walk The Plank task.

Louise Minchin, Naughty Boy, Danny Miller And Snoochie Shy were among a group of celebs who were flown by helicopter to a rig constructed for the show and escorted by presenters Ant and Dec.

After they arrived, the group were seen tackling the challenge as they were clad in neon orange jackets and dangling from up high while taking on the Walk The Plank challenge.

The presenters themselves, appeared to be enjoying the view from the scaffolding. Ant, wearing a long coat, jeans and boots, taking out his mobile phone and snapping pictures of the drop while laughing.

Dec was beaming as he chatted to Naughty Boy and pointed around the scaffolding.

Naughty Boy and Danny Miller appeared particularly purturbed by the task after the bottom of the plank gave out underneath them as they floundered on the plank.

Teams of cameraman had batteries of lights installed on top of the scaffolding as for the stars walked around talking to Ant and Dec.

The fact that they risked adding carbon emissions and polluting the air with their means of transport only a week after the government-led green summit COP26 seemed lost on show producers.

One observer said: ‘It was a sunny morning and you can get quite easily from the castle where they will be based, to the set which has been built.

‘They could’ve easily taken an electric car all together and it would have taken them about an hour. But I suppose they want to keep the celebs away from prying eyes and away from any risk of Covid infection.’

In the afternoon, the weather turned, with rain and mist descending forcing filming to halt.

All participants in the show, which is one of ITV’s biggest hits annually, have been in isolation for the past fortnight.

Today’s show producers filmed the celebs landing in helicopters and then ‘walking the plank’ over the giant scaffolding which has been erected in a quarry along the North Wales coast near Caernarfon.

The scaffolding has been erected at Alexandra Quarry near Penyffridd, In order to force them to ‘Walk The Plank’ during a task. It is above the disused quarry, with a terrifying drop of hundreds of feet.

Ant and Dec, wrapped up against the cold and rain, showed four of the show stars around the scaffolding before filming began.

A similar plank challenge was executed in Australia in the 2019 series, while last year, stars abseiled down a cliff – leading to a memorable moment in which DJ Jordan North vomited in fear.

Ant and Dec and their band of stars were given a hearty welcome back to North Wales in the eve of the 20th anniversary of the hit show, despite opposition from some locals.

The TV presenters were surprised by a banner held over a motorway leading to Abergele which urged them to ‘go home’.

There has also been unhappiness against the celebrity circus on local bulletin boards from residents concerned that the increased number of visitors will mean traffic snarl ups as roads have been closed with traffic speeds limited and footpaths sealed off.

A woman died outside the castle in a road accident while trying to take a picture of the monument last year leading to safety fears over fans.

But businesses and local residents in the Welsh town have hit back and come out in favour of the pair bringing their show back to Gwrych Castle for the second consecutive year after seeing visitor numbers increase by 50 per cent.

As these pictures show, along with Christmas decorations locals have been busy erecting banners, cardboard cut outs and photographs welcoming the duo, who usually broadcast from the Australian jungle, back.

Les Light who owns Ready Grass in Abergele has placed two giant cardboard cut outs of the Geordie stars next to a throne and two giant sized balloons.

He said: ‘These guys are good for putting the area on the national map as well as bringing more visitors into the pubs here.’

At the local butchers Kitchens of Abergele, store assistant Dawn Williams said: ‘I think it is wonderful they are back here.

‘Most people love them and the attention it brings. We have put their faces in our window as well as those of the 10 contestants. It is going to be a great celebration of our castle and our market town.’

Butcher Darren King added: ‘Everyone here has the programme on their lips and wish them luck. ‘

Retired tax consultant Sarah Frost, 82, said: ‘These are lovely people who exude such charm on our television sets. It is wonderful to think that Ant and Dec are in our town.

‘I just wish they would take a walk down the High Street and meet everyone. They couldn’t last year because of Covid restrictions. I do hope they can this time round.’

But she added: ‘I would rather like to meet the footballer David (Ginola) though. He has such beautiful Gallic eyes. They are eyes that can easily seduce…but I must be getting along.’

The barmaid at the George and Dragon Clare Stanton ,48, who is originally from Kent, added: ‘I would love Ant to come here and pull a pint for the regulars. It would make their day.

‘The show is very popular around here. It is good for everyone that people around the country get to see Abergele filmed and talked about.

‘We are all trying to find out who put that banner up on the bridge. I think it might have been a prank and somebody trying to have a laugh. It wasn’t remotely funny. We love Ant and Dec. They are national institutions.’

Conwy councillor Goronwy Edwards, said: ‘ it has been a very difficult year for the businesses here.

‘They are keen to take advantage of the new trade that this show will bring to the area and good luck to them. It should boost the local economy.

‘There have been some worries about traffic. But we are better prepared this year as we have had more time.

‘There has been a few people who do not agree with having the show here and all the attention that it brings. But I think the attention that it does bring is very positive.

‘People have been coming here from all over Britain to have their pictures taken outside the castle. They want to be part of the show and so do the local people.’