I'm A Celebrity late arrivals confirmed as Love Island icon and Strictly star with pop past

After I'm A Celebrity fans were convinced they knew who the 'late arrivals' were going to this year, after spotting that two stars heavily linked with the show were missing from the official line-up, their identities were officially confirmed at the end of Wednesday night's episode.

After loads of speculation on who might be doing the ITV show this year and several stars being seen landing in Australia, the I'm A Celebrity 2024 line-up was announced last Monday night, ahead of the show's return at the weekend. It included many stars tipped for the jungle, like rumoured £1.5m signing Coleen Rooney, boxing legend Barry McGuigan, ex Strictly pro Oti Mabuse and McFly's Danny Jones, the early favourite to win with every bookmaker so far.

Joining them are the likes of social media icon and Loose Women newcomer GK Barry, former X Factor judge Tulisa and Coronation Street legend Alan Halsall, but two names not on the list of confirmed contestants were Maura Higgins and Rev Richard Coles, with them also absent from Sunday's launch episode.

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Initially, Maura's Love Island co-star Tommy Fury, was all set to head Down Under, following his high profile split from fiancée Molly Mae Hague, but last month insiders claimed he'd pulled out of I'm A Celebrity to focus on another 'lucrative project.'

It was quickly reported that Tommy's decision led TV execs to Maura, with a source claiming: "With Tommy Fury pulling out it gave show bosses the opportunity to look at other Love Island stars and Maura stood out as the perfect candidate. She'll bringing a bit of glamour to the jungle and make a brilliant campmate because she's got a great sense of humour and is bound to get on with everyone."

And Maura isn't the only celeb linked with the show to be going in late, with musician, ex Strictly star and radio host Rev Richard Coles not revealed as a newcomer to camp as well. On the topic of him doing the jungle, an insider said: "As always, the jungle bosses have cleverly put together a sensational line-up guaranteed to make for compulsive viewing. Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."

By going in as late arrivals, the pair will be following in the footsteps of many famous faces to do the same, including 2015 winner Vicky Pattison.