I’m a Famous Person ITV allegedly warned campmates to be aware of blood-sucking leeches when they entered the forest.
According to reports, there has been an attack of parasites in the camp, which has lately received two latecomers, as a result of major storms that have battered Australia, with the damp weather giving ideal conditions for the creatures to thrive.
The leeches have apparently attacked MIC’s Sam Thompson, 31, and Hollyoaks star Nick Pickard, 48, in a surprise attack.
As a result, producers have been compelled to advise celebrities to be extra cautious around uninvited guests because their blood-zapping might deplete their limited energy reserves.
A source said: ‘Sam had a leech attach itself to his foot and Nick had one on his hand – the rain has brought them all out. Production has told the celebs to take extra care and be vigilant.’
They continued to The Sun: ‘Whilst leeches fall off naturally once they’ve drunk their fill, if the celebs are feeling weak, tired and hungry anyway it’s far from ideal.
‘There’s also the risk that the leeches’ entry site can become infected so it’s a big issue.’
This isn’t the only animal invasion the celebs have had to deal with this year, as dangerous snakes have also descended on the rainforest owing to the ‘humid’ weather in Australia.
The programme’s Health and Safety Officer Jeremy Douglas said: ‘We have had a lot of snakes on the site this year, possibly because it has been so humid.’
Jeremy continued to The Sun: ‘We have had pythons and non-venomous and venomous species.
‘You get small eyed snakes and brown tree snakes predominantly.’
There have already been 15 snake sightings, according to executive producer Laura Woolf, but she admits it will ‘become worse’ when the 10 celebs enter the jungle this weekend because they like to leave food around.
She added to the publication: ‘We’ve had 15 snake sightings across the site and then we’ve had to identify some venomous ones in camp.
‘It gets worse when the celebs come in because they leave food everywhere. It’s like they don’t realise they’re living in a jungle!’
After seeing a snake near their flat in Australia, presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly became familiar with it.
It’s believed to have been an Eastern Brown Snake, which is the world’s second-most poisonous land snake.
Ant and Dec will have to be vigilant when on the beach and in the surrounding region. The snake was found exactly where they hang out between shows, and brown snakes are not to be trifled with, according to a show source.
‘Snakes are part of Aussie life but it is still scary to think one of these was slithering around so close by,’ they added to The Mirror.
The Eastern Brown Snake, which may grow to be seven feet (two metres) long, is notable for its defensive displays, which include coiling its neck into a ‘S’ form, rising off the ground, and opening its jaws, ready to attack.
They are responsible for more snakebite deaths in Australia than any other category of snakes, and they are also highly swift, with the ability to outrun a human running at full speed.
I’m A Celebrity continues tonight on ITV and ITVX at 9pm.
