Soap favourite Jamie Lomas is latest celeb to sign up for the I’m A Celeb jungle and bosses hope he strikes up a romance with another campmate
I’M A CELEB bosses have signed up soap favourite JAMIE LOMAS for the jungle.
I can reveal show chiefs are now hoping Jamie — who was previously married to Coronation Street’s KYM MARSH — will strike up a romance with one of his campmates.
They include THE SATURDAYS’ VANESSA WHITE who recently split from her long-term boyfriend, and Made in Chelsea’s GEORGIA TOFFOLO.
An insider said: “Jamie is a good-looking single guy so they are hoping sparks will fly with one of the single girls in the camp.
“There will be plenty of gorgeous girls in there he could end up hitting it off with.
“And the bosses know viewers love a jungle romance. Jamie is a really down-to-earth, funny bloke but also doesn’t suffer fools. So they think he’s a great signing.”
The father of two shot to fame as bad boy Warren Fox in Hollyoaks and went on to star in EastEnders before returning to the Cheshire-based soap in 2016.
But he is quitting for a second time and his dramatic exit will be shown on the Channel 4 soap next week.
Explaining his departure, Jamie said: “Just to try other things really. I like to go in and have a little time in Hollyoaks and then try something else.”
He joked: “Maybe I’ll go back in time.”
A source close to Jamie added last night: “This is a really exciting time for him. He can’t wait to get into the camp, meet his campmates and get stuck into the challenges.
“He isn’t daunted by any of the trials at the moment, but let’s see what happens when he gets out there.”
A spokesman for I’m A Celeb said: “We don’t comment on speculation.”
Ant looks the part
ANT McPARTLIN is still to get the doctors’ all-clear but has given the clearest sign yet he’s on his way to recovery – and Down Under.
He visited his favourite barber – Jo Blu in Chiswick, West London – last weekend to get his barnet trimmed in time for the show.
And a source told me: “It’s expected Ant will be given the green light by medics imminently to join DECLAN DONNELLY in Australia, so he got his favourite pre-I’m A Celeb haircut.
“He was very upbeat and bubbly and smiled lots.
“He was definitely looking like his old self and said he was really looking forward to the show.”
Earlier this year The Sun on Sunday revealed how Ant’s two-year addiction to strong painkillers almost killed him, following a botched knee operation.
Having emerged from a two-month stint in rehab, the star later praised the brilliant NHS doctor who saved him.
I’m looking forward to seeing a healthy and happy Ant make a triumphant return to the show alongside his pal Dec.
Meanwhile, Extra Camp host SCARLETT MOFFATT could go off-script after being urged by ANT & DEC to be herself.
Last year’s Queen of the Jungle said: “When I do Saturday Night Takeaway they say ‘Be you’, so I ad-lib. I’m starting to feel more confident.” About time too.
Teasing the lineup
ANT & DEC have teased they know I’m A Celeb’s full line-up.
The rapper PRINCESS VITARAH posted a selfie on Twitter and asked: “Tell me something I don’t know.”
The pair cheekily replied: “I’ve got the line-up for this year’s @ImA Celebrity if you’re interested . . . ”
Sheridan: I lost it a bit
SHERIDAN SMITH has opened up about last year’s breakdown after her beloved dad Colin died of cancer.
She quit West End show Funny Girl after allegedly being drunk on stage, then went to a retreat with depression and anxiety.
In an ITV special tonight, she sings Crazy by GNARLS BARKLEY and says: “I wanted it to be a cheeky wink to my meltdown. You come out the other side stronger. I lost my mind a bit.”
Sheridan who is dating hairdresser Graham Nation, also spoke of her failed flings with JORDAN RING of Love Island and actor GREG WOOD, adding: “I need someone who makes me laugh. My dad set the bar high.”
Here’s hoping Sheridan’s beau is good with the one-liners.
Bey loves Lil' bit of dress up
MOST people struggle to cobble together one decent Halloween dress-up outfit – but not BEYONCE.
In a homage to LIL’ KIM, Queen Bey changed into FIVE of the rapper’s most famous looks, including a fluorescent yellow bikini from Kim’s 1997 No Way Out tour.
Naturally, the singer posted professional pictures of all the looks, which also included a flesh-coloured, fur-trimmed body suit.
Makes ALAN CARR’s GEMMA COLLINS outfit look tame.
Ange Of Mercy
JUST weeks after ANGELINA JOLIE accused disgraced HARVEY WEINSTEIN of sexually harassing her, it has emerged she has pumped £1million into a charity set up to prevent violence to women.
The Hollywood actress launched the Jolie Pitt Dalton Helic Foundation in May 2015, and initially loaned the charity £368,686 to get it off the ground.
The latest accounts available show she put in a further £621,893 by December last year, taking her total contribution to £990,037. Good on Angelina.
Daisy cheeks in for the weekend
THIS time last year, DAISY LOWE was sweating it out on Strictly.
Now the model is relaxing in posh hotel saunas instead.
On Friday she put her best, ahem, cheek forward to pose in a swimsuit and posted this on her Instagram, which she captioned: “#TFIFRIDAY happy weekend everyone.”
Not jealous at all, honest.
Harry's X Factor return silences feud rumours
X FACTOR bosses are on a roll when it comes to signing top acts for guest slots – and that run will continue next week when HARRY STYLES takes to the stage.
I revealed back in August chiefs had set their sights firmly on the ONE DIRECTION star.
And they confirmed last night Harry is on board for next Saturday’s show.
PALOMA FAITH, meanwhile, will perform on the Sunday night.
As well as giving the series’ ratings a boost, Harry’s appearance will lay to rest lingering rumours of resentment between him and former boss SIMON COWELL.
Despite Harry’s decision to move away from Simon’s Syco label to sign a megabucks deal with Columbia Records, the label boss has always insisted there is no bad blood between them.
And Harry has been equally quick to praise the music mogul, gushing that he is “wonderful”.
That means fans can expect a proper love-in between the pair next Saturday night.
A source told me: “The bosses were desperate to get Harry on board this year and they are delighted he has managed to find the time to perform.
“He is part of The X Factor’s biggest success story, so asking him was a no-brainer.
“The bosses are sure he will be a major ratings boost for the show, as well as giving Simon the chance to publicly show his support for him as a solo artist. This is a real coup for them.”
After last week’s incident on stage at his gig in London, let’s hope there aren’t any kiwi fruit in the audience.
ED's Idea A Hoot
SINCE he can’t play the guitar for a while after breaking his arms, ED SHEERAN needs a new business distraction.
It could involve opening a version of US fast-food chain Hooters – more famous for its busty waitresses in short shorts than its chicken wings – with his pal JAMES BLUNT.
James, who toured America with Ed earlier this year, said: “All I can say is that most nights we ended up in Hooters.
“We are thinking about opening up a Hooters over on this side of the water.”
I hope the venture doesn’t go t*ts up.
Lottie's Gleam of the Crop
ONLY one of the MOSS clan could make this tinsel-trimmed dress look edgy.
KATE’s little sis LOTTIE toughened up the look with a leather jacket at a Dolce & Gabbana event in Harrods on Friday.
Meanwhile, singer PIXIE LOTT went for a “Bridget Jones meets Pat Butcher” look by teaming her nude granny-pants with a host of sparkly jewels.
How very festive. All that was missing was a glass of mulled wine and a chubby, bearded guy in a red suit.
Lady Gaga is going for two
TOPPING the charts and selling out world tours aren’t enough for LADY GAGA.
She wants to bag an Oscar after writing the music for her new film A Star Is Born.
I can reveal the singer is aiming for a double at the awards – for songwriting and as an actress.
