STARS Tamzin Outhwaite and AJ Pritchard are set to appear on I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! — in a double blow to TV rival Strictly Come Dancing.
Ex-EastEnders actress Tamzin and professional dancer AJ have both had talks with the ITV jungle show’s bosses.
Tamzin, 49, has been a top target for BBC’s Strictly this year, while AJ, 25, has left the annual dancing contest after four years.
A source said: “Strictly would like to think that no one leaves the show and goes on to bigger things, but AJ will be very popular in the jungle and it’ll be a good platform for him.
“His deal is all but done and ITV are delighted they’ve been able to prise him away from their rivals.
“Meanwhile, it’s early days with Tamzin but she’s someone producers have discussed going to Oz in the autumn — and she’s told pals she is 100 per cent not taking part in Strictly.
“There’s some way to go in negotiations but she’s more likely to be eating a kangaroo testicle than wearing sequins this year.”
It comes after HOAR revealed that Strictly bosses were in crisis because talks over signings for this series stalled due to the coronavirus lockdown.
They have been struggling to get stars to commit to the show and producers are being told the celebs may need to take on other better-paid projects to recoup money they have been losing while staying at home.
We also revealed last week how a £15million war chest had been prepared by ITV to ensure that I’m A Celeb enjoys a successful year after concerns about whether or not it would air.
Tamzin was first linked to a turn on Strictly last month, after she said it was 2020 “or never” to take part in the hit series.
She made the comments because her daughters — 12-year-old Florence, and Marnie, seven — were “desperate” for her to be on the show.
AJ was one of the stars of Strictly, before quitting in a shock move earlier this year to focus on presenting opportunities alongside his brother Curtis, 24, who was a finalist in last year’s Love Island.
AJ partnered YouTube star Saffron Barker on last year’s Strictly.
He and Curtis fronted a Dance Along challenge for Sport Relief and went on a UK tour.
A source added: “Losing someone who has made their name on your show is one thing, but when your celebrity targets start defecting too it’s a headache.”
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