EXCLUSIVE: 2021: Concerned I’m a Celebrity bosses are forced to pre-record tonight’s show amid safety concerns as Storm Arwen is set to batter Gwrych castle
I’m A Celebrity has confirmed that Friday night’s show has been pre-recorded amid safety concerns for the contestant as Storm Arwen sets its sights on Gwrych castle.
I’m a Celebrity stars face further depression and another dip in their morale on Friday night when an unwelcome guest called Arwen joins them.
The castle had been taking a weather battering with gale force winds and driving rain bringing down tree branches and safety signs.
But the Met Office warned there is worse to come for the area around Gwrych Castle from midnight from a storm they have given the Welsh name of Arwen.
Incoming: I’m a Celebrity stars face further depression and another dip in their morale on Friday night when an unwelcome guest called Arwen joins them (pictured hosts Ant and Dec)
The first heavy blasts meant security guards who had been brought into Gwrych Castle to protect the eleven remaining celebrities had to leave their posts to retrieve and reposition fencing blown down by the extreme weather.
Road signs which had been held down with sand bags were felled and blown into the road as cars had to swerve to avoid them.
The extreme weather warnings forced the show’s producers to take emergency measures to protect its stars who are staying in the 19th century castle.
The celebrities have been warned by ITV that tonight further massive disruption is likely by the furious weather blast with gusts of 70mph, which the Met Office named ‘Storm Arwen’.
Weather woes: The castle had been taking a weather battering with gale force winds and driving rain bringing down tree branches and safety signs.
The Met Office said: ‘Storm Arwen will bring very strong northerly winds into coastal parts of Wales and parts of western England Friday night and into Saturday. ‘
The 19th century castle is positioned high up on a hill in an open space, less than a mile from Liverpool Bay which borders the Irish sea.
The Met office added: ‘Flying debris is likely and could lead to Injuries or danger to life; Probably damage to trees, temporary structures and buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs.
‘Some roads and bridges are likely to close; There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.
A storm is coming: But the Met Office warned there is worse to come for the area around Gwrych Castle from midnight from a storm they have given the Welsh name of Arwen
Storm drama: The first heavy blasts meant security guards who had been brought into Gwrych Castle to protect the eleven remaining celebrities had to leave their posts to retrieve and reposition fencing blown down by the extreme weather
Uh oh: The celebrities have been warned by ITV that tonight further massive disruption is likely by the furious weather blast with gusts of 70mph, which the Met Office named ‘Storm Arwen’
‘Injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.’
Elsewhere, Red alerts – warning of a ‘danger to life’ – have been issued across the northeast of England and Scotland for the first time in three years as Britons are warned to prepare for flooding, blizzards and power cuts.
The red warning, which covers areas including Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, will be in place from 3pm Friday until 2am Saturday morning.
Public transport in the red zone will be cancelled as the Met Office warned roofs could be blown off and ‘power lines brought down’.
Warning: Red, amber and yellow wind and snow warnings have been released for Scotland, western England and Northern Ireland on Friday, before extending to almost the entire of the UK on Saturday
Disruption: Road signs which had been held down with sand bags were felled and blown into the road as cars had to swerve to avoid them
Amendments: A guard fixes some of the security fencing at Gwrych Castle ahead of the arrival of Storm Arwen
Windy: The Met Office said: ‘Storm Arwen will bring very strong northerly winds into coastal parts of Wales and parts of western England Friday night and into Saturday.’
As temperatures on Friday plunged well below average to -4.4C in the Lake District, the Met Office warned commuters of ‘flying debris’ expected to cause chaos on roads, bridges and railway lines.
ITV said it was making preparations for the heavy winter storm and had advised its show’s stars that safety measures may have to be taken.
An I’m a Celebrity spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Show bosses are monitoring Storm Arwen and we have contingencies in place to cover all weather scenarios.’
Meanwhile, local resident Diana Pritchard, a retired dental assistant who lives with husband Ian close to the castle, said: ‘We have been warned that the storm is going to last for nine hours from midnight and be absolutely terrible.
‘I hope they take care of the celebrities up there. It’s going to be pretty cold windy and wet and who knows what the storm will do to the trees and the structure of the walls around the castle.’
Location: The 19th century castle is positioned high up on a hill in an open space, less than a mile from Liverpool Bay which borders the Irish sea
Fears: Meanwhile, local resident Diana Pritchard, a retired dental assistant who lives with husband Ian (both pictured) close to the castle, said: ‘We have been warned that the storm is going to last for nine hours from midnight and be absolutely terrible’
Bad weather: Fencing and signs have been blown over in the area surrounding the derelict Welsh castle
Sharon Roberts, 41, a charity worker of Rhyl, added: ‘I live close to the coastline. I’m really worried about the sea and what it might do to the houses alongside as the waves are going to be pretty strong.
‘But I would hate to be up there in that castle. They’re not going to get any sleep that’s for sure.
‘I’ve been watching the show and they seem pretty grumpy with low morale. I wonder what this will do to them.
‘It isn’t going to help them in terms of spirit. But I’ll probably make good TV. The show hasn’t been as great this year because no one really knows who most of people are, but a storm hit in the castle will be very dramatic.’
I’m A Celebrity airs daily from 9pm on ITV.
Safety first: ITV said it was making preparations for the heavy winter storm and had advised its show’s stars that safety measures may have to be taken
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