Giovanna Fletcher reveals she hasn’t washed her I’m A Celebrity vest since returning home

Giovanna Fletcher has claimed she hasn’t washed her I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Outta Here! vest once since she returned home in November last year.

During an appearance on Wednesday’s Lorraine, the author, 36, claimed she didn’t want to put the outerwear in the wash as she was keen to ‘keep the essence’ of it, just like her wedding dress.

Joking with Lorraine Kelly when asked about it, Giovanna, who won the 2020 series of the reality competition show, admitted the attire didn’t ‘smell good’.

Shock: Giovanna Fletcher revealed on Wednesday’s Lorraine that she hasn’t washed her I’m A Celebrity vest ONCE since returning home as she wants to ‘keep the essence’ of Gwrych castle 

Giovanna said: ‘I might have pinched it, I haven’t washed it. I have done the thing I did with my wedding dress, I wanted to keep its essence. I sniffed it earlier and it doesn’t smell good!’

The cast of the latest I’m A Celebrity series stayed in Gwrych Castle in North Wales for a total of 20 days.

She went on to say that she and her co-stars keep in touch via a WhatsApp group called ‘Happy Place’, and told Lorraine: ‘It’s just lovely and we’re hoping we can get back together at some point.’

Been a whiel: Giovanna returned from the show in November last year after winning following 20 days in the castle (pictured), and she admitted the attire didn't 'smell good'

Been a whiel: Giovanna returned from the show in November last year after winning following 20 days in the castle (pictured), and she admitted the attire didn’t ‘smell good’

Reasoning: Giovanna said: 'I might have pinched it, I haven’t washed it, I have done the thing I did with my wedding dress, I wanted to keep its essence'

Reasoning: Giovanna said: ‘I might have pinched it, I haven’t washed it, I have done the thing I did with my wedding dress, I wanted to keep its essence’

Giovanna beat Vernon Kay and Jordan North to be crowned Queen Of The Castle for the series, and Lorraine joked that it would be ‘hard’ for her to travel to Australia at the end of the year to give up her crown. 

Continuing the joke, Giovanna said: ‘I know I don’t know how, I’ve not been asked if I would go over, I’m not sure how I’d manage to go over to Australia and give over my crown.’

She went on: ‘I think it’d be hard if other people would go to the castle, those are the walls we looked at and it’s amazing.’ 

Sweet: Giovanna went on to say that she and her co-stars keep in touch via a WhatsApp group, and told Lorraine: 'It's just lovely and we're hoping we can get back together at some point'

Sweet: Giovanna went on to say that she and her co-stars keep in touch via a WhatsApp group, and told Lorraine: ‘It’s just lovely and we’re hoping we can get back together at some point’

Reigning champion: Giovanna beat Vernon Kay and Jordan North to be crowned Queen Of The Castle, and Lorraine joked it would be 'hard' for her to travel to Australia to give up her crown

Reigning champion: Giovanna beat Vernon Kay and Jordan North to be crowned Queen Of The Castle, and Lorraine joked it would be ‘hard’ for her to travel to Australia to give up her crown

Last week, it was revealed the show will return to Australia ‘if possible’, after the pandemic drove the show to be filmed in Wales last year.

ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall confirmed that bosses are hoping the show will return to the jungle as that is how the show is ‘meant to be’.

Speaking as the network published its group annual results, she said: ‘If we can go back to Australia – and this show is meant to be in Australia – then that’s what we’ll do. We have a very good plan if not, as we have already done it once (in the castle).’ 

Will they be back? Last week it was revealed the show will return to Australia 'if possible', after the pandemic drove the show to be filmed in Wales last year

Will they be back? Last week it was revealed the show will return to Australia ‘if possible’, after the pandemic drove the show to be filmed in Wales last year

Prior to the confirmation, hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sparked claims that this year’s series will be returning to Wales last month.

The presenting duo said they’d be ‘very happy’ to remain in the UK for filming when the series returns later this year, joking they ‘wouldn’t miss the jet lag’.

Last year’s I’m A Celebrity was relocated to Gwrych Castle in Wales after plans to record the usual show in Australia became impossible due to COVID. 

Speaking to Digital Spy magazine, Ant said: ‘If during coronavirus we have to stay put and do it in Wales again, I’d be very happy.

Chatting away: ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall confirmed that bosses are hoping the show will return to the jungle as that is how the show is 'meant to be' (pictured in 2018)

Chatting away: ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall confirmed that bosses are hoping the show will return to the jungle as that is how the show is ‘meant to be’ (pictured in 2018)

‘We were very welcomed in Wales. There were cardboard cut-outs of me and Dec in the butcher’s, and the local school did a tribute. We’d happily go back there. We’d miss the sunshine, mind.’

Dec added that he ‘wouldn’t be disappointed’ if filming was once again taking place in Wales later this year, adding: ‘The people in Wales were lovely…

‘They made us feel very welcome. I had a lovely time. I will miss the sunshine, but I will not miss the jet lag of coming back from Australia.’ 

Changes: Last year's I'm A Celebrity was relocated to Wales after plans to record the usual show in Australia became impossible during the COVID-19 pandemic

Changes: Last year’s I’m A Celebrity was relocated to Wales after plans to record the usual show in Australia became impossible during the COVID-19 pandemic

Last year’s I’m A Celebrity saw author Giovanna Fletcher crowned series champion after 12 celebrities moved into the derelict Gwrych Castle.

It was reported last month that ITV bosses had already secured use of the castle for another series if the Covid crisis prevented a return to Australia.

A source told The Sun: ‘Ultimately they are at the mercy of COVID-19 restrictions. Formally an agreement is in place for the use of Gwrych Castle this year. Should the show need to be held there again it has all got the green light.’

ITV hired the 19th century castle for six weeks in 2020, costing £1million, after Covid-19 ruled out the usual setting in Australia. The network also announced an extreme Covid Management Plan to ensure the series ran smoothly.

This included the celebrities being tested every three days and crew members wearing proximity buzzers, masks and getting temperature checks on arrival.

The celebrities also had to isolate for two weeks ahead of their arrival. The new venue was warmly received by viewers, with some even calling for the show to make Wales its new permanent home. 

Next series? The presenting duo said they'd be 'very happy' to remain in the UK for filming when the series returns later this year (pictured with 2020 winner Giovanna Fletcher)

Next series? The presenting duo said they’d be ‘very happy’ to remain in the UK for filming when the series returns later this year (pictured with 2020 winner Giovanna Fletcher)