I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is set to return to Australian television screens on Sunday.
And the executive producer behind the hit show, Alex Mavroidakis, told the TV Reload podcast on Friday that ‘up to 70 names’ were seriously considered to star.
Insisting that Pete Evans was never confirmed to appear on the series, Alex also revealed whether he believes the chef would have been an ideal contestant.
SPOILER: An executive Producer behind I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! revealed how up to 70 stars were considered for the 2021 season, on the TV Reload podcast on Friday. Pictured: the show’s hosts Dr. Chris Brown and Julia Morris
Alex, who interviewed this year’s cast via Zoom from his Gold Coast home, said ‘it’s not an exaggeration’ to say they had ’60 to 70 names seriously in the mix’.
In terms of what makes a great star lineup, he explained: ‘We’ve got to check off diversity, we’ve got to check off fame, we’ve got to check off funny, we’ve got to check off headlines.’
Alex went on to say, that while it may sound like a cliché, they’ve got to have that ‘x-factor’.
Secrets revealed: Alex Mavroidakis (pictured), who interviewed this year’s cast via Zoom from his Gold Coast home, said ‘it’s not an exaggeration’ to say they had ’60 to 70 names seriously in the mix’
When asked his thoughts on whether he believes Pete Evans would have made an ideal contestant, Alex began by stating that ‘there’s absolutely zero confirmation Pete Evans was ever anything to do with I’m A Celebrity’.
However, he did say that from a certain perspective, he would have ‘100 per cent’ casted him in the jungle.
‘I’m commenting on this from the perspective of someone who reads Facebook and Twitter. From a headline-grabbing point of view, the hack producer in me says, “100 per cent put him in”.’
In terms of what makes a great star lineup, Alex explained: ‘We’ve got to check off diversity, we’ve got to check off fame, we’ve got to check off funny, we’ve got to check off headlines.’ Pictured with Geordie Shore star and I’m A Celeb Australia’s 2020 star Charlotte Crosby
Perfect candidate? When asked his thoughts on whether he believes Pete Evans (pictured) would have made an ideal contestant, Alex said that from a ‘headline-grabbing point of view’, he would have ‘100 per cent’ casted him in the jungle
Pete was reportedly dumped from the I’m A Celebrity cast in November, after posting a neo-Nazi meme to Facebook.
At the time, the former My Kitchen Rules judge, 47, laughed off his latest scandal outside his farm in northern NSW, offering a half-hearted apology to those offended by his racist social media post.
Pete told Daily Mail Australia: ‘I apologise to anyone who might’ve taken it out of context. I promise you, whatever anybody is saying, that is not who I am,’ he insisted, before bursting into a fit of giggles.
‘And once again, deepest apologies to anyone who might have taken offence to that comment, or the image that I shared, because it was never meant to be taken in that way,’ he added.
Dumped at the eleventh hour? Reports surfaced that Pete was dumped from I’m a Celebrity in November… after posting a neo-Nazi meme to Facebook. Pictured: hosts Julia Morris and Dr Chris Brown
Shameful: He posted this cartoon of a caterpillar wearing a MAGA cap and a butterfly with the neo-Nazi Black Sun emblem on its wing – with the suggestion being that neo-Nazism is the natural evolution for Donald Trump supporters
When asked how he felt about being axed from I’m a Celebrity, Pete once again laughed hysterically, saying: ‘Oh! I don’t even know what you’re talking about!’
Pete has faced significant backlash since sharing the racist meme on Facebook.
The post was a cartoon of a caterpillar wearing a MAGA cap and a butterfly with the neo-Nazi Black Sun emblem on its wing – with the suggestion being that neo-Nazism is the natural evolution for Donald Trump supporters.
Pete is an enthusiastic supporter of the president and advocates the baseless claim that Joe Biden only won the 2020 election due to voter fraud.
Remorseful: He later deleted the post and replaced it with an image of a rainbow heart alongside a sarcastic non-apology in which he claimed he would be ‘studying all of the symbols that have ever existed’ to make sure he doesn’t offend anyone again
The Black Sun symbol became infamous after it was introduced by top-ranking Nazi Heinrich Himmler during World War II. The symbol has since been adopted by numerous neo-Nazi groups, and by Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant.
Pete seemingly confirmed he was aware of the meaning of the symbol when a fan stated they recognised it, and Pete replied: ‘I was waiting for someone to see that.’
He later deleted the post and replaced it with an image of a rainbow heart alongside a sarcastic non-apology in which he claimed he would be ‘studying all of the symbols that have ever existed’ to make sure he doesn’t offend anyone again.
‘Sincere apologies to anyone who misinterpreted a previous post of a caterpillar and a butterfly having a chat over a drink and perceived that I was promoting hatred,’ he wrote.
‘I look forward to studying all of the symbols that have ever existed and research them thoroughly before posting. Hopefully this symbol❤️ resonates deeply into the hearts of ALL! ❤️’
‘Sincere apologies to anyone who misinterpreted a previous post of a caterpillar and a butterfly having a chat over a drink and perceived that I was promoting hatred,’ he wrote