Ant McPartlin amazes staff at a pub in Wales as he stops for a socially distanced selfie

Ant McPartlin amazed pub staff as he stopped for a selfie ahead of I’m A Celebrity‘s launch show on Sunday. 

The TV presenter, 44, stopped for a photo on Friday with manager Jackie at The Mulberry in Conwy Marina, Wales. 

Ant sported a black face covering and followed coronavirus guidelines by keeping a social distance. 

A nice surprise: Ant McPartlin, 44, amazed staff at The Mulberry in Conwy Marina, Wales, after he stopped for a socially distanced selfie on Friday

He stood in the background of the selfie, wearing a black tracksuit and a grey body warmer. 

Taking to Facebook, the pub shared the snap and said: ‘Now there’s a nice surprise at The Mulberry today. Casually working and look who has time to take a selfie with our manager Jackie. It’s only Ant from I’m A Celeb.’ 

Pubs have been allowed to re-open in Wales following the 17-day ‘firebreak’ lockdown with groups of four people from different households allowed to meet up in cafes, pubs and restaurants.

I’m A Celebrity starts on Sunday and will take place at Gwrych Castle in north Wales this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Moving to Wales: I'm A Celebrity starts on Sunday and will take place at Gwrych Castle in north Wales this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic

Moving to Wales: I’m A Celebrity starts on Sunday and will take place at Gwrych Castle in north Wales this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic

Helicopters were spotted near the castle on Friday afternoon, as it was revealed that starts will endure 50mph gales and torrential rain when the show returns for its 2020 series.  

The show has had to adapt the entire format as they looked for new ways to kick-start the entrance of the celebrities at the new location. 

The helicopters were seen shortly before new flying restrictions were put in place in the area around the enormous I’m A Celebrity set.

Adapting: The show has had to adapt the entire format as they looked for new ways to kick-start the entrance of the celebrities at the new location

Adapting: The show has had to adapt the entire format as they looked for new ways to kick-start the entrance of the celebrities at the new location

Aerial activity status above Gwrych Castle will become a yellow or red zone from 5pm on Friday night and will remain in place until 8pm on December 5.

After weeks of builders working round-the-clock to restore crumbling Welsh landmark Gwrych Castle, I’m A Celebrity revealed the first look at the camp on Friday.  

This year’s stars will experience the most brutal living conditions in the show’s 20-year history, after ITV relocated from Australia to Wales due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Celebrities including TV presenter Vernon Kay, 48, Corrie legend Beverley Callard, 63, and Team GB star Mo Farah, 37, will compete for food and hot water in freezing temperatures.   

ITV hired the 19th century castle for six weeks costing £1million after Covid-19 ruled out the usual setting in Australia.

The 2020 series, which starts on Sunday, is expected to last 20 days – two shorter than normal.

And so it begins: This year's stars will experience the most brutal living conditions in the show's 20-year history, after ITV relocated to Wales due to the coronavirus pandemic

And so it begins: This year’s stars will experience the most brutal living conditions in the show’s 20-year history, after ITV relocated to Wales due to the coronavirus pandemic

Other celebrities competing are Strictly star AJ Pritchard, 26, vlogger Giovanna Fletcher, 35, paralympian Hollie Arnold, 26, EastEnders actress Jessica Plummer, 28, Radio 1 DJ Jordan North, 30, funnyman Shane Richie, 56, TV presenter Vernon Kay, 46, and TV host Victoria Derbyshire, 52. 

ITV announced an extreme Covid Management Plan to ensure the series runs smoothly, including the celebrities being tested every three days and crew members wearing proximity buzzers, wear masks and get temperature checks on arrival. 

The celebrities have been isolating for two weeks ahead of their arrival.

I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE! 2020: Who are the celebrities?

Name: SIR MO FARAH CBE

Age: 37

Claim to fame: The most successful British track athlete in Olympic Games history 

Phobias: Any animal that moves

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: It will be nice for people to see me doing something other than running

Role in the camp: Cook

Miss most: Coffee, my wife and children

Dream campmate: Samuel L Jackson would be pretty cool

Relationship status: Married

Name: SHANE RICHIE

Age: 56  

Phobias: Human faeces. If I see one, it is over! I am hoping the camp toilet will be enclosed

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: Nothing. I don’t think I am that interesting

Role in the camp: Person who will muck in with anything 

Miss most: My family and routine at home

Dream campmate: Eric Cantona, any 80s’ pop star or The Roc

Relationship status: Married

Name: BEVERLEY CALLARD

Age: 63

Claim to fame: Corrie legend 

Phobias: Ghosts and insects 

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: People think I am glamorous as I have played Liz for so long but I am not

Role in the camp: Cleaner 

Miss most: Dogs and my husband, Jon

Dream campmate: Ricky Gervais – he would keep us all going

Relationship status: Married

Name: AJ PRITCHARD 

Age: 26 

Claim to fame: Former Strictly professional

Phobias: Heights, claustrophobia

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: People see me with sparkles and fake tan but nobody knows what I am like

Role in the camp: Keeping spirits up and the cleaner

Miss most: My warm and comfy bed

Dream campmate: Any celebrity with an intriguing background

Relationship status: Dating

Name: VERNON KAY

Age: 46

Claim to fame: TV and radio presenter

Phobias: I don’t like being confined underwater!

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I think I have always been the same throughout my career – so I don’t have any.

Role in the camp: Person to keep spirits up.

Miss most: My family.

Dream camper: Anybody who has won the Super Bowl!

Relationship status: Married.

Name: VICTORIA DERBYSHIRE

Age: 52  

Claim to fame: Award-winning journalist

Phobias: I am not a fan of spiders or confined spaces and I don’t know what I am going to be like when I get there! 

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I don’t think I have any as people just know me as the news and current affairs person! 

Role in the camp: Shoulder to cry on. 

Miss most: My boys, husband, dog and Mum. 

Dream campmate: Madonna, Gary Lineker and Jamie Oliver to cook for us. I think you could have some really geeky chats with them! 

Relationship status: Married.

Name: GIOVANNA FLETCHER

Age: 35

Claim to fame: Author and podcaster

Phobias: Heights. My legs go wobbly and you can’t rationalise it

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I am not that controversial so nothing

Role in the camp: Mum, friend and the giver of hugs

Miss most: My husband, Tom, and my three children

Dream campmate: The Queen, Judi Dench and Ant Middleton so he can help us with all the survival skills

Relationship status: Married

Name: JESSICA PLUMMER

Age: 28

Claim to fame: Former EastEnders actress

Phobias: Arachnophobia, fear of heights –just about every phobia

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: It will be nice for people to see me for who I am rather than my EastEnders character

Role in the camp: Chatterbox and little sister

Miss most: My daughter. It’s going to be the longest we’ve been apart

Dream campmate: Denzel Washington would be awesome. I would listen to every word he said

Relationship status: Single

Name: JORDAN NORTH

Age: 30

Claim to fame: Radio 1 DJ 

Phobias: It’s just easier to say what I am not scared of. I have so many phobias

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: On my Radio 1 show, I am always bubbly and energetic but everyone has down moments too, so it will be nice for people to see what I am really like

Role in the camp: Entertainer and the tidy up person –I love a tidy house

Miss most: A nice cool pint of Guinness

Dream campmate: Barack Obama and Liam Gallagher. He would be great entertainment value

Relationship status: Single

Name: HOLLIE ARNOLD MBE  

Age: 26

Claim to fame: Paralympic gold medallist 

Phobias: Spiders

Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the castle: I don’t want it to focus on my disability

Role in the camp: Cook/shoulder to cry on 

Miss most: My boyfriend, food and my cats

Dream campmate: Michelle Keegan –she is beautiful

Relationship status: Dating

 

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