I’m A Celebrity campmates have been reportedly urged by ITV to be wary of blood-sucking leeches after they invaded the jungle.
It’s been claimed there has been an onslaught of the parasites in the camp, which has recently welcomed two latecomers, due to severe storms hitting Australia, with the wet weather providing the perfect conditions for the critters to thrive.
MIC’s Sam Thompson, 31, and Hollyoaks actor Nick Pickard, 48, have been particularly targeted by the leeches, who reportedly set upon them in a surprise attack.
As a result, producers have been forced to warn celebrities to stay hyper-vigilant around the unwelcome guests as they’re blood-zapping could drain their limited energy levels.
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.’
And that’s not the only animal intrusion the stars have had to contend with this year after venomous snakes also descended on the jungle due to the ‘humid’ weather Down Under.
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.’
Executive producer Laura Woolf confirmed there has already been 15 snake sightings, but admitted it will ‘get worse’ when the 10 celebrities enter the jungle this weekend, because they tend 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!’
Even hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have been acquainted with a snake after spotting one near their apartment in Australia.
It’s reportedly thought to have been an Eastern Brown Snake, which is considered the world’s second-most venomous land snake.
Ant and Dec will have to keep their eyes peeled when on the beach and in the surrounding area. The snake has been spotted exactly where they hang out between shows and brown snakes are not to be messed with,’ a source from the show claimed.
‘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.
Growing up to seven feet (two metres) in length, the Eastern Brown Snake is known for its defensive displays – often mistaken for aggression – which will see it coil its neck into an ‘S’ shape, rising off the ground and opening its mouth, ready to strike.
They are responsible for the most deaths from snakebite in Australia than any other group of snakes, and are also very fast, thought to be able to outpace a human running at full speed.
I’m A Celebrity continues tonight on ITV and ITVX at 9pm.
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