Why there’s no cash prize for whoever wins I’m A Celebrity this year

At this time of year British telly is pretty much dominated by a bunch of celebs over in an Australian jungle.

And this series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is definitely giving us stuff to chat about as two stars have already had to quit – within just days of each other.

But luckily for them, they’ve not left so early that they’ll miss out on making their bag.

It was announced earlier today (29 November) that Jamie Lynn Spears has had to quit the ITV show.

Her last appearance will be tonight as an ITV spokesperson said: “Jamie Lynn Spears has left I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! on medical grounds. She's been a fantastic campmate who has triumphed at trials and bonded well with her fellow celebrities."

This came only a few days after Grace Dent suddenly left for ‘medical reasons’, with the Masterchef star calling her exit ‘one of the saddest things in my life’.

And in the midst of all this, comedian Nella Rose had to temporarily leave the camp to be treated by the show’s on-site medics.

ITV

But luckily she was just exempt from last night’s trial as a spokesperson said Rose ‘has since rejoined camp’.

Having left before the public voting to save the stars even begins, Spears and Dent aren’t actually missing out on any money as there’s no cash prize for winning.

That’s right, the money is only paid to I’m A Celeb stars for taking part and the prize is simply getting to sit on that iconic throne with a crown as they’re named king or queen of the jungle.

I mean, would the stars really need some kind of cash prize anyway?

Instead, they get their set fee for appearing on the show which varies dependent on just how famous they are.

@imacelebrity/ Twitter

There is a catch to it though, and Dent and Spears are lucky to have escaped it.

According to the Mirror, the stars need to stay in the jungle for at least 72 hours to receive their fee in full – if they leave before that then their pay cheque gets cut.

Both celebs lasted over a week in camp, so it appears they’ll be entitled to the full fee.

It’s reported Nigel Farage is getting a whopping £1.5million for taking part, which would make him the ‘highest paid’ campmate in I’m A Celeb history.

Brand and Culture expert Nick Ede also told the Mail he reckons Dent will get a fee of £100,000, while Spears could be getting £250,000.

Still, that’s a lot of money for ITV to have splashed out on stars leaving early – cash prize or not.