Filming of the upcoming I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! spin-off, The Wild Frontier, was reportedly thrown into chaos after a disgruntled former crew member blocked a trial in a dispute over pay.
The show is being filmed in the rugged Canadian wilderness of the Callaghan Valley. Hosted by Ant and Dec, the format features a series of perilous trials for celebrities, including an abseiling mission and overnight challenges dubbed 'Bear Watch'.
Trial blocked amid pay dispute
One trial would have seen celebrities plunge from cranes into the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. However, the shoot was jeopardised when a former employee anchored his boat beneath the cranes, forcing producers to sail out and negotiate a deal.
A source told The Sun: 'It was all very embarrassing as the production bosses knew that the ex-crew member was on public property.'
'They were forced to get a boat out to him and thrash out a deal to get on with filming the trial. Fortunately, the dispute was settled so the schedule was not delayed.'
Bear attack and celebrity quits
This is not the first setback for the production. Earlier this month, the camp was reportedly put under 'lockdown' after a bear attack in the surrounding area. Following the attack on a female hiker, authorities shut down public access to the area, which is only 30 minutes from the celebrities' camp. The hiker was airlifted to hospital, and an adult black bear found at the site was killed due to 'safety concerns'.
Shortly after, the show faced fresh turmoil when Venezuela Fury and husband Noah Price quit days after filming commenced. A source told The Sun: 'Venezuela and Noah quit over the weekend after admitting they didn't want to carry on.'
'They both realised early on it was too much. The challenges are tough; the living conditions aren't easy. They both gave it their best shot, but when push came to shove, it all got too much, and they walked out.' The source added that 'it's going to make for amazing television' despite the 'headache' for producers.
Replacement and format details
2025 Love Island winner Toni Laites and her best friend Marielle have reportedly been flown in to take their place. The tabloid's source said: 'She felt like the perfect person to step in – and she's been a huge fan of I'm A Celebrity for years, so she jumped at the chance.'
The spin-off will feature celebrity pairings, including Rio Ferdinand and Kate Ferdinand, Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy, and Christopher Dean and Karen Barber. In a promotional video, Ant teased: 'Have a guess where we are? No, it's not Centre Parcs. We're in Canada!'
Dec added: 'We are filming a brand new series from the I'm A Celebrity team and it's called I'm A Celebrity: The Wild Frontier.'
'It's an exciting new format, loads of new trials and challenges and we cannot wait to bring it to you.' Ant finished: 'And those duos better be ready because out here in the Canadian wilderness, danger lurks around every corner. One word – bears.' Metro has contacted ITV for comment.
