Emma Willis had an ingenious suggestion for a luxury item when she found out her friend Giovanna Fletcher would be taking part in this year’s I’m A Celebrity – only for the request to be denied by producers.

Author and podcast host Giovanna is one of 10 famous contestants who’ll be heading into new digs in a ruined castle in Wales this weekend for the new series of the ITV reality show.

Speaking to The Sun, Emma – who used to host spin-off show I’m a Celebrity , Get Me Out Of Here NOW!, and is married to former winner Matt Willis – said: “[Giovanna] came round just before lockdown and I was like: ‘What’s your luxury item going to be?’.

“She didn’t know and I said: ‘You have to take cycling shorts – long cycling shorts!’ She was like: ‘Why would you do that??’ and I said so bugs aren’t going to crawl up the places you don’t want them to crawl up!

“She hadn’t thought about that and was like: ‘Oh my god, I need to take cycling shorts!’… nobody wants a cockroach up the butt, or any other orifice.”

Sadly, though, the request was shot down by I’m A Celebrity bosses, as it violated one of their key rules.

“She wasn’t allowed because that’s clothing,” Emma said, adding: “You can only take in the clothing they approved.”

Giovanna will be joined by a host of fellow stars on the new series, including soap legend Beverley Callard, broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire and former Strictly Come Dancing pro AJ Pritchard.

I’m A Celebrity returns on Sunday night at 9pm on ITV.