[Red Moon]

I'M A CELEB! IN CASH CRISIS

A DOUBLE cash crisis is threatening this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Fees for participating stars have all been slashed due to the credit crunch.

And cameramen embroiled in a bust-up over pay and working hours have warned they could disrupt filming of the ITV1 jungle show.

The celeb fees cut could be looming over EastEnder Joe Swash, 26, shamed athlete Dwain Chambers, 29, and MP-turned-presenter Robert Kilroy-Silk, 66 – all tipped to join the rainforest line-up.

Rivals in past series, including Jordan, Sophie Anderton and Kerry Katona, are all believed to have received £100,000.

But insiders say there’s no chance the cheques will be so generous for the eighth series, due to start on Sunday.

I’m A Celeb is made by Granada, who have already announced cutbacks.

The show has used the same camera crews for years. But several members of the team have declined the job this time.

One senior cameraman revealed: “We got together and asked Granada for a rise because we haven’t had an increase for years.

“They not only refused but said that some of us wouldn’t be taken on at all this year, meaning everyone else would have to work longer hours.

“We already work long hours and now they are expecting us to do up to 16-hour shifts. I told them to stuff it.”

The cameraman will now do night filming for another show.

He added: “I’ll probably get bitten to death by mosquitoes but I’d rather that than work for the tight-fisted lot at Granada.

“Some of my mates haven’t got any choice so they have accepted the I’m A Celeb job.

“But they told me that, if they are too short-staffed and the hours get ridiculous, they are just going to walk off set.”

Claire Montgomery, a spokesman for the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance union, said: “Lots of our members work for this programme.

“We are keeping a close watch on how things develop and have asked our members to contact us immediately if they have any problems. We would then take them up.”

Source: Daily Star

[\PJ/]

Lies.