ITV I'm A Celebrity star 'pulls out' as host announces 'breaking news just in'

An ITV I'm A Celebrity star has sensationally pulled out of the Bushtucker Trial tonight - hours before the episode airs. Barry McGuigan has sparked fears among ITV viewers after Ant and Dec announced he wouldn't be competing in the Trial on November 29.

McGuigan was keen to nominate himself to take part in the latest trial alongside campmate Oti Mabuse. But the 63-year-old was nowhere to be seen in the trial area as Melvin Odoom stepped in to replace him in scenes that will air on Friday night.

Joel Dommett, the host of I'm A Celeb spin-off show Unpacked, first confirmed the news on Thursday evening. He told ITV2 viewers: "News just in people... I can now tell you the camp has managed their minds and now Oti and Melvin will be doing the next trial.

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"They changed from Barry to Melvin. That’s great, we’ll get to see Melvin do a trial!" After learning McGuigan was no longer taking part, social media users soon targeted the show's X account to voice their concerns. On social media, some speculated whether Barry couldn't take part because of medical reasons.

Others were concerned he may have quit the show, with viewers predicting an early walk for the star last week. "What happened to Barry?" one user was quick to ask alongside an angry emoji. "Barry pulled out? Pretty sure it was him and Oti?" a second concern fan asked before a third hit out: "This is BS, I was excited when Barry volunteered, I finally thought this was his #RedemptionTrial and now I'm angry and disappointed."

And another typed: "For people thinking it was Barry not Melvin, if you haven’t watched tonight’s unpacked they revealed Melvin would do it instead, maybe medical reasons." McGuigan is not taking part in the Bushtucker Trial is because he wanted to give Melvin (who had never done one) the chance to take part.

According to multiple reports, Melvin asked Barry whether he could take his place in the trial, as he had not taken part in one yet, and the boxer agreed. In a preview clip from 'Tanks of Torture', Melvin and Oti can be seen locked in water tanks, with large plastic bowls over their heads.