I'm A Celebrity star AJ Pritchard CONFIRMED for the show after negative Covid test

AJ Pritchard on I'm A Celebrity
(Image credit: ITV)

I'm A Celebrity star AJ has confirmed he will be heading into the castle camp...

I'm A Celebrity 2020 fans can breathe a sign of relief because AJ Pritchard has confirmed he will he heading into the castle this weekend.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional's time on I'm A Celebrity had been thrown into jeopardy after testing positive for Covid last week.

I'm A Celebrity 2020 cast

AJ's future on the show was thrown into doubt when he tested positive for Covid (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: ITV)

As with all TV shows at the moment, I'm A Celebrity has been subject to strict regulations, with all the cast and crew undergoing regular Covid testing.

Worrying result

AJ was said to be shocked to receive a positive test recently after following the all the precautions.

A source told The Sun: "Everyone is on tenterhooks. Like the other contestants AJ has had a routine Covid test, which came back positive.

"He will have another one before going in."

TV tonight I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Ant and Dec will be welcoming the new celebrities into the castle this weekend (Picture: ITV)

Thankfully AJ has confirmed that he has had that second test, which this time came back negative.

Getting the all clear 

He told Metro.co.uk: "Yes, I did have a positive coronavirus test early into my isolation.

"I'm very happy to report that I've had two tests recently and they have both come back negative, which means I'm 100 per cent going into the jungle.

"I'm very excited about that. It's a big relief for everybody. I just want to thank ITV for all their stringent measures.

I'm A Celebrity new logo for new series

I'm A Celebrity will be set in a Welsh castle instead of the Australian jungle this year (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: ITV)

"The whole point of us going into lockdown and isolating is just in case this does happen."

Fans of the show will already know that things are going to look a little different this year.

Not only is the show being set in a haunted Welsh castle instead of in the Australian jungle, but there will also be a change to the Saturday night instalments.

Instead of a regular programme, Saturday nights will show viewers a round up of the week's highlights, as well as some previously unseen footage.

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! starts on Sunday 15th November at 9pm on ITV1. 

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.