August 10th 2024.
According to reports, a well-known social media star has declined an offer to appear on this year's season of Strictly Come Dancing. The influencer, known as GK Barry and real name Grace Keeling, was heavily rumored to be joining the BBC dance show's 20th season, with her name being mentioned in many speculative line-ups earlier this year. However, despite the initial buzz, there has been no sign of Grace in the official cast list, leading to speculation that she turned down the opportunity.
At the age of 24, Grace is now being considered for another popular ITV show, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, which takes place in the Australian jungle. Sources say that producers see her as a great way to attract younger viewers, thanks to her huge online following and popular podcast called Saving Grace. They believe that her sharp wit and quick thinking would make for entertaining conversations around the campfire with other celebrities.
The Sun reports that an insider revealed, "GK is hugely popular with the younger generation and is sharp and quick-witted which would translate well to chats around the campfire with other celebs. Producers think she has great energy and is highly entertaining. She has millions of social media followers, which is a top focus of ITV at the moment. Grace is savvy and knows this is a brilliant opportunity to become more of a household name."
While Grace was in talks with Strictly, she ultimately decided to pass on the opportunity in order to pursue her television career with ITV. Responding to the reports, an ITV spokesperson stated, "Any names suggested for I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here are just speculation."
This news comes after Grace made her debut as a host on Loose Women, joining the likes of Frankie Bridge, Denise Welch, and Kaye Adams at the famous table earlier this week. Known for her sarcasm and risqué humor, Grace was well-received by viewers and fit in seamlessly with her co-presenters. It seems that she's eager to continue appearing on mainstream TV shows, as she hinted last year that she would happily sign up for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! However, she does have one condition - she wants a strong, single man in the jungle with her.
Grace recently confirmed a new romance, announcing on her podcast in May that she was "in love" and officially "off the market" after three weeks of dating her girlfriend. This suggests that her previous condition for appearing on I'm A Celebrity may no longer apply.
The TikTok star, who has over 4.5 million followers across her platforms, rose to fame in 2020 with her comedic videos about everyday mishaps. Her podcast has also gained popularity, featuring celebrity guests such as Rylan Clark, Katie Price, Ella Toone, and many Love Islanders. Grace has even toured the UK and Ireland, performing in packed venues, which could indicate that she would do well on I'm A Celebrity.
While it's still early days for I'm A Celebrity 2024, there have been rumors of another potential crossover from Strictly. After being dropped from the BBC show, Giovanni Pernice is reportedly being considered by ITV bosses as a potential campmate, with a rumored offer of £100,000. According to Mail Online, a source said, "Gio is looking forward to getting his career going again. His Strictly one may have come to an end, but that doesn't mean it's over for him. There are some very exciting things in the pipeline."
This year's confirmed Strictly line-up includes Love Island's Tasha Ghouri, Towie's Pete Wicks, Gladiators star Montell Douglas, Olympic swimmer Tom Dean, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, The X Factor winner Shayne Ward, and Miranda actress Sarah Hadland. I'm A Celebrity returns to ITV later this year, while Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC this autumn.
Representatives for GK Barry have been contacted for comment. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, the entertainment team at The Agency can be reached via email, phone, or by visiting their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you.
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