AJ will be joined by Sir Mo Farah, Shane Richie and Vernon Kay tonight alongside six other celebrity campmates as I’m a Celeb begins tonight.
The campmates will leave their families and say goodbye to comfortable beds as they get to grips with a rather different show this year.
Ballroom dancer AJ said goodbye to his girlfriend and brother yesterday, posting pictures on Instagram saying he was excited to be heading off on a “new adventure”.
He captioned the pictures: “Off I go on my new adventure! I hope to do you proud see you all on the other side.”
Read More: AJ Pritchard slams Strictly ‘You didn’t see my personality’
Due to the pandemic, frequent testing of cast and crew has been crucial as the show gets underway.
Instead of heading to the Australian jungle as with previous years, I’m a Celeb will be held in Wales.
The coronavirus pandemic has prevented international travel, and so the campmates will stay at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, North Wales this year.
TV Studios’ director of entertainment Richard Cowles said of the change in location: “The Australian jungle is such an integral part of the show [and] it was a big challenge to find a UK location where we could continue to deliver what viewers love about I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!.
“But Gwrych will definitely do that; the Castle sits in an amazing and atmospheric setting on a hillside overlooking the Irish Sea.
“While there will be plenty of changes required as we move from New South Wales in Australia to North Wales in the UK, we are really excited to see how we can adapt the format and make the Castle our new home for a very special 20th series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! this autumn.”
Nearby Manorafon Farm Park has also been booked by producers for use on the show and is home to llamas, meerkats and also a reptile hut.
The host of celebrities will be tackling physical and eating challenges throughout the series, but instead of facing the Australian heat, will have the Welsh winter to contend with.
I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here starts tonight on ITV1 at 9pm.