THE contenders on I’m A Celebrity have it easy in the jungle compared to a new Channel 4 series that’s also based Down Under.
In Outback Brits, 12 backpackers from the UK will head to a remote region of Australia to work on a farm for a month.
The show will see them living together in what telly bosses hope will be a Big Brother/Love Island fusion, where contestants could potentially find romance, annoy the hell out of each other — or both.
A TV insider said: “This is a real telly experiment and Channel 4 bosses hope it will become a cult hit.
“It’s a brilliant opportunity to visit such an amazing location but the backpackers are not there for a holiday.
“They will be put through their paces by no-nonsense Aussie farmers, who won’t stand for any softies. So unlike Love Island, the grafting they’ll be doing will be actual work — but bosses hope relationships will blossom and romances, as well as feuds, will be on the cards.”
Typical outback farm work includes manning sheep and cattle stations, plus tending to crops.
And as well as taking on the boiling-hot climate, the cast will also potentially be exposed to some of the world’s most dangerous animals, including snakes, spiders and even crocodiles, which all call the outback home.
The 12 contestants will come from all walks of life, but most will be young, free and single, looking for a summer to remember.
Moody Aussie farmers certainly won’t make life easy for them.
Outback Brits is being made by the same production company behind Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli's Road Trip series on ITV.
The Strictly legends wouldn’t last a minute in this new show.
Oti and Motsi in DNA hunt
OTI and Motsi Mabuse are to delve into their family history in the upcoming series of ITV’s DNA Journey.
The sisters will head back to South Africa to discover the truth about their bloodlines, just over two months after Oti made a documentary for the BBC about her home nation and growing up there.
The four-part series features three other celebrity pairs who will delve into their family history, including former Line of Duty co-stars Adrian Dunbar and Neil Morrissey.
The Last Leg’s Alex Brooker and funnyman Johnny Vegas, Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville and comic John Bishop, complete the line-up.
Confirmation of Dancing On Ice judge Oti’s appearance came 24 hours after news of her new ITV Saturday morning chat show later this year.
Stallone time
SYLVESTER Stallone is following in the footsteps of the Kardashians and Osbournes by making a reality show with his family.
The series will feature the Rocky star, his wife Jennifer Flavin, plus their daughters Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet.
Family Stallone will air on Paramount+ this year.
Jez not thinking inking
JEREMY Paxman says he is bombarded with requests to get a tattoo – but remains unconvinced.
The University Challenge host is being urged to follow the lead of ex-Question Time presenter David Dimbleby, who had a scorpion on his shoulder – his first inking – at the age of 75.
Jeremy said: “I have so far ignored all requests to join David Dimbleby in having a tattoo. How much longer can I hold out?”
Jeremy is also keen to beat his personal best fishing salmon – but doesn’t hold out hope.
He said: “Something is going on at sea which means these fish are not returning to their natal rivers in this country in the numbers we once knew.”
If he does beat his total, a salmon tatt would look great.
Pun and games for Rita
THE MASKED Singer host Joel Dommett has faced competition in the comedy stakes from Rita Ora.
Fellow panellist Jonathan Ross said with a laugh: “Rita will blurt something out which sounds a bit like a joke and you kind of know roughly what area she was thinking it might be, but it just doesn’t make any sense.
“Unintentional Rita-isms, that we all really enjoy very much.”
With the final three episodes away, should you have missed hitmaker Rita’s funny gems here are some of her best:
To Otter: “That alter to do it . . . ”
To Cat and Mouse: “Just cheese a minute.”
To Pigeon: “You better not pluck the feathers out of that Pigeon.”
She then tried: “Pigeon me that . . . Like riddle me that?”
A chuckling Joel added: “That doesn’t work, it doesn’t sound anything like riddle!”
Never change, Reets.
NO MORE SISTER NICE GUY
JUDGING by the success of her dark comedy Bad Sisters, Sharon Horgan's new Sky show Dreamland should be a must-see.
The Irish actor and writer has set her latest project in Margate, Kent, where secrets, lies, loves and aspirations abound within a family of four sisters.
Lily Allen leads the cast as Mel, whose return to the family causes all sorts of trouble.
Her siblings are played by Doctor Who’s Freema Agyeman as pregnant eldest sister Trish, Gaby Best as Clare, plus Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Leila.
The series will hit screens later this year alongside fellow new Sky Originals including Danny Dyer's comedy debut in Mr Bigstuff and the return of Brassic, now in its fifth season.
