We’ve always thought appearing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! must be a pretty cool job.
Okay, so you’ve got bugs, snakes and spiders to contend with, but you also get an all-expenses paid winter visit to Australia, loads of exposure, and, of course, a glam stay in a six-star hotel once you’re eliminated.
But according to one fellow campmate, there’s a serious side to the show that viewers don’t know about: the threat of prosecution.
An old article Michael Buerk wrote for Radio Times has been dug up ahead of the new series starting on Sunday night, which details the dos and don’ts of entering the jungle.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing star reveals secret bum tattoo
And the biggest jungle don’t of all was (unsurprisingly) interfering with the wildlife.
Michael, who appeared on the 2014 series, said: “The one thing they were adamant about was harming the wildlife: ‘You could be prosecuted.’”
I’m A Celebrity fans will no doubt remember the furore that occurred back in 2010 when campmate Gino D’Acampo caught, killed and cooked a rat.
A fine was issued by Australia’s RSPCA and ITV apologised.
In a statement, the broadcaster said: “The production was unaware that killing a rat could be an offence, criminal or otherwise in New South Wales, and accepts that further inquiries should have been made.
“This was an oversight and we have since thoroughly reviewed our procedures and are putting in place a comprehensive training programme to ensure that this does not happen in future series.”
Meanwhile, Michael, now 71, also divulged the other rules of camp in his article for Radio Times.
He revealed how I’m A Celeb’s executive producer Becca Walker took him through a list of ten ‘commandments’ for the show before he entered the jungle.
“Behaviour that was banned (for being “inappropriate”, of course – nothing is actually wrong these days) included bullying, ‘nonconsensual touching’, masturbation (she seemed particularly concerned about that), homophobic language or attitudes and ‘category A’ swear words (which include the f-word and the c-word),” wrote Michael.
He added: “It was all rather odd because it was made clear that there was ‘no problem’ with nudity (‘in a nonsexual context’), sexual behaviour ‘that is reciprocated’, and rudeness.”
Ten new celebrities will enter the jungle on Sunday night.
Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine (Fiz), Saturdays singer Vanessa White, ex-Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas (Warren), comedian Shappi Khorsandi, Made In Chelsea reality star Georgia Toffolo and WAG Rebekah Vardy are all taking part.
Read more: I’m A Celeb’s Jamie Lomas finally explains why he quit Hollyoaks
Completing the line-up are Boris Johnson’s former politician dad Stanley, YouTuber Jack Maynard, boxer Amir Khan and retired footballer Dennis Wise.
I’m A Celebrity starts Sunday at 9pm on ITV.