03 November 2009, 10:13
Legendary boxing champ Joe Bugner is coming out of retirement to take on the snakes, spiders and bugs in the new series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, says a report.
The 59-year-old, who moved to Australia in 1986, has signed up to enter the jungle camp when this year's series starts on November 15, according to the Daily Star.
The former international champion fighter, who is famous for his fights against Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper, will have to take on the arduous Bushtucker trials in the jungle reality TV show.
A source said: "He's still rough and tough."
I'm A Celebrity... recently hit the headlines when a report claimed that the show had been hit by the credit crunch.
Producers are said to be facing cutbacks and may not have the funds to sign up top stars.
A tighter budget on this year's show means that producers will not be able to sign celebrities like Star Trek's George Takei, who was allegedly on a £200,000 contract, according to a report in the Daily Star.
It has also been rumoured that the producers are to axe expensive Bushtucker trials and the helicopter stunts which were part of the previous year's tasks.
The celebs are not going to have first-class seats as they fly out to Australia but will have to go standard.
ITV's director of television Peter Fincham commented: "I'm A Celebrity... will be as rich as ever but there is pressure on our budgets."
Last updated: 03 November 2009, 10:13
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