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Vernon Kay wants this year's 'I'm a Celebrity' to 'be more horrible' for the stars

Watch: Vernon Kay takes part in Bushtucker Trial

Vernon Kay's main wish for this year's edition of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here is for it to "be more horrible" than his experience in the Welsh castle last year.

The 47-year-old presenter finished third on the 2020 series of the show, behind winner Giovanna Fletcher and runner-up Jordan North.

The series was filmed in Gwrych Castle in Wales rather than the usual Australian jungle due to COVID-19 travel restrictions — and the 2021 edition will take place in Wales once again.

Read more: Vernon Kay reveals which star gave him I'm a Celeb tips

Kay appeared on the BBC's Newscast podcast with I'm a Celebrity campmate Victoria Derbyshire and revealed that he hopes things will be even tougher for the next crop of celebs.

"Someone asked me, what do you think we can fix? I said, less food, make it colder. I just wanted it to be more horrible for them," said the star.

Vernon Kay finished in third place on the 2020 series of reality show 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here'. (ITV)
Vernon Kay finished in third place on the 2020 series of reality show 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here'. (ITV)

Kay said he does think the show will be "more gruelling" this year due to relaxed COVID-19 protocols in the UK and that the show will "probably upscale some of the challenges".

Read more: AJ Pritchard says I'm a Celeb castle had heating

He added: "I have heard that they had [physical trials] lined up for us. But COVID prevented us from leaving the castle.

"It prevented us from going to another outdoor space that wasn’t under the strict COVID protocols we were.

"But I think those will come back. I think it will be more challenging, it will be more gruelling."

Vernon Kay wants 'I'm a Celebrity' producers to make the show even tougher this year. (Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
Vernon Kay wants 'I'm a Celebrity' producers to make the show even tougher this year. (Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)

Kay and Derbyshire discussed how the contestants in the castle were kept away from any knowledge of the outside world.

The former Family Fortunes host said he wasn't even able to find out whether his bet on the Masters golf tournament had come through.

Read more: Tess Daly reveals she cried watching Kay on I'm a Celebrity

"We’re told not to communicate so that we don’t have any sense of reality," said Kay.

"You know, we’re on a reality TV show, but it is so we don’t get emotional about news stories or about things that could affect us or our emotions in camp."

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here is due to return to ITV in November.

Watch: Trailer for the 2021 series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here