Channel 10 was reportedly left scrambling after Robert Irwin reportedly \u201crefused to commit\u201d to another season of I\u2019m A Celebrity. <\/p>\n
Last week, the network announced that it was laying the once beloved reality competition to rest. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have made the decision to rest I\u2019m A Celebrity \u2026 Get Me Out Of Here! in 2027 as we focus on offering our audience a range of content on all platforms,\u201d a Ten spokesperson said at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look forward to working with [current hosts] Julia Morris and Robert Irwin on other projects,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n
Now, TV insiders have revealed that the train began to come off the tracks after show star Rob Irwin became reluctant to commit to the show long-term. <\/p>\n
\u201cTen genuinely saw him as the future face of the show and potentially the future face of the network,\u201d a source told Sky News<\/a>. \u201cWhen it became clear he wasn\u2019t fully committing long term, that\u2019s when real panic started internally.\u201d<\/p>\n Sources close to the show said that the writing was on the wall when Ten was reportedly discussing over ways to further cut the budget. <\/p>\n The insider insisted that the one behemoth of a TV show \u201ccould not survive another round of cuts.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cTen has been shaving money off that show year after year. Cheaper challenges, smaller production elements, tighter talent deals,\u201d one source told SkyNews.com.au.<\/p>\n \u201cRecording the series a few months in advance. Eventually you hit a point where there\u2019s nothing left to cut without damaging the actual product on screen.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m A Celeb has been a favourite with viewers as they follow a host of celebrities head into the jungle to face terrifying challenges with the goal of winning $100,000 for their chosen charity.<\/p>\n Last year, Aussie comedian Concetta Caristo was crowned Jungle Queen.<\/p>\n Former NRL star Sam Thaiday, Abbie Chatfield, Casey Donovan and Brendan Fevola are also among the winners of the series from previous years.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, earlier this month a published article from industry site TV Blackbox<\/a> reported that rival networks are fighting it out to win the rights to air the show.<\/p>\n