I’M A Celebrity has angered Welsh locals by shutting footpaths near the haunted castle before the show.
The show, hosted by Ant and Dec, has angered local ramblers who say they’ve been barred from enjoying the surrounding woodlands and fields of Gwrych Castle.
Keen walkers hit out at the new restrictions after they were blocked from treading their favourite footpaths, and they told the I’m A Celeb crew to “get yourselves out of here” on Twitter.
Abergele residents also said they hadn’t realised the mega production was in town and were left baffled when they saw security patrolling the grounds, after the ITV programme was forced to switch locations from Australia to Wales due to the coronavirus pandemic.
One local took a photo of signage erected near the castle boundary wall which declared: “The entire Estate is currently closed to the public.”
The angry Abergele rambler typed on Twitter: “ANT AND DEC CLOSE DOWN ABERGELE CASTLE FOOTPATHS IN NORTH WALES – DO US A FAVOUR – GET YOURSELF’S OUT OF HERE – WE DON’T NEED YOU .”
Another account tweeted: “So, at least we now know why we’ve all been barred from the tracks and paths around Gwrych these last few months…”
And a follower replied and said: “It all makes sense now!
As one more local raged: “Security Guards are Patrolling the Grounds – All in Aid of ITVs I’M A CELEBRITY – ANT AND DEC – GET YOURSELF OUT OF HERE !”
I’m A Celebrity bosses have broken the bank to transform a derelict castle into a TV set.
Millions have been shelled out to make the early 19th-century building safe, with the installation of electrics and hundreds of yards of pipes for running water.
ITV chiefs have also repaired the crumbling towers.
Gwrych Castle was hired for more than £1million for six weeks after Covid-19 ruled out the usual setting in the Australian jungle.
And this year’s version of the show promises to be no picnic as the celebs huddle in the ruins of a draughty castle close to the North Wales coast.
ITV chiefs have splashed out a fortune on foul-weather gear for this year’s I’m a Celeb campmates – who include Shane Richie and were exclusively revealed by HOAR this week – including thermals and bedding to withstand the freezing temperatures.
HOAR was first to reveal how ITV bosses have bought top-of-the range outdoor clothing, sleeping bags and even scores of insulating blankets of the type handed out to marathon runners following a race.
