Vernon Kay on i'm a celebrity
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Vernon Kay claims I’m A Celebrity bosses ‘considered how they could turn 2020 camp nasty’

The star also hit out at the editing of the show

Vernon Kay has sensationally hit out at the “unfair” editing on I’m A Celebrity, as he claims that there is pressure on the show to “turn it nasty”.

The 47-year-old presenter, who finished third on last year’s series of the hit ITV show, said that the programme was edited to deliberately cause “friction” between campmates in the name of entertainment.

Vernon Kay on I'm A Celebrity
Vernon Kay appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2020 (Credit: ITV / YouTube)

What did Vernon say about I’m A Celebrity editing?

Vernon’s controversial comments came during an appearance on the Ry-Union podcast, hosted by Rylan Clark. On the podcast, Vernon claimed he and his campmates on the 2020 series were “comfy” with each other. However, he claims he “heard” that ITV bosses tried to edit the show in a way to give a different impression.

The debate began when fellow interviewee Beverley Callard of Coronation Street fame said the show’s editing was “unfair”.

Read more: I’m A Celebrity tonight: Kadeena Cox screams at Arlene Phillips as show returns with terrifying trial 

Vernon agreed with his 64-year-old former I’m A Celebrity campmate. “Beverly is right,” he said.

“I’ve heard from the inside that there was a moment in I think week one when they had a production meeting on how they could possibly turn it nasty,” the presenter revealed.

What else did Vernon say on Rylan’s podcast?

Vernon Kay campmate Beverley Callard on I'm A Celebrity_
Vernon’s fellow campmate, Beverley Callard, agreed that ITV bosses edited the show “unfairly” (Credit: ITV / YouTube)

“None of us were confrontational… no-one was moody,” Beverley said.

The actress then went on to say that Vernon was “an absolute darling” and had been “lovely, kind, and giving” during their time in Gwrych Castle. She revealed that the 47-year-old presenter even gave her his bathrobe after Beverley endured a traumatic trial that saw her covered in bugs.

Vernon elaborated on how well castmates on the 2020 series of the show got on.

“Our group was so relaxed in each other’s company that from day one, our conversations went from zero to a hundred,” he said. “The cooking pot for chat was just mega, it really was. And I think we just fed off each other.”

Why did ITV bosses give up on trying to cause friction?

Vernon Kay on I'm A Celebrity (1)
Vernon Kay finished in 3rd place on last year’s show (Credit: ITV / YouTube)

Vernon then claimed that once the ITV bosses saw how well the show was doing without the drama, they decided to give up on their idea of causing friction.

“When they saw the viewing figures, they were like, why would we want to ruin it? It’s getting over 12, 13 million. Let’s not break it. And they just let us go with it,” he said.

Read more: Ant and Dec admit I’m A Celebrity isn’t out of danger as it prepares to return tonight

“They let us embrace each other instead of being fractious,” he concluded.

Vernon then went on to say that he would love to reunite with his I’m A Celebrity campmates, killing off any rumours of friction once and for all.

ED! has contacted reps for I’m A Celebrity for comment.

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Robert Emlyn Slater
Senior Writer