A YORK-BASED company is working with ITV to launch a £7m I'm a Celebrity theme park.

Continuum Attractions, the Yorkshire-based leisure company group, will become the preferred partner for the broadcasters’ own-brand visitor attractions across the UK.    

Continuum is adding to ITV’s current portfolio, which includes the Coronation Street The Tour, reopening 2022, and the weekend tours of the Emmerdale Village on the Harewood Estate, outside Leeds.

The I’m a Celebrity… Jungle Challenge theme park will launch inside Quayside Shopping Centre at MediaCityUK, Manchester, and is expected to open in summer – allowing you to take your turn on trials in the jungle. 

While Jungle Challenge may be heading to Manchester, bosses at of the hit TV show, hosted by Geordies Ant and Dec, have revealed filming will return to Australia this year if travel is possible, the chief of ITV has said.

Producers abandoned plans to head to Australia in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year’s series, which was a hit with viewers, took place at Gwrych Castle, near Abergele in North Wales, instead.

Juliana Delany, CEO Continuum Attractions, said: “I’m thrilled that we have brokered this new, long-term working relationship with ITV and adding the brand new attraction too.

The Northern Echo: Picture: Continuum AttractionsPicture: Continuum Attractions

“ITV’s IP’s and brands are much loved and real crowd pleasers and the Continuum team are really looking forward to opening the doors on the Jungle Challenge; it will be a totally new and utterly amazing 90 minute jungle-themed, actioned-packed activity challenge for all the family to enjoy.

"Guests compete by taking up physical and mental challenges to collect starts and be the crowned King or Queen of the jungle. From climbing walls to the premium event – Europe’s first ceiling-mounted Spyrider – it’s going to be super awesome and hugely popular, of that I’m certain."

Continuum worked with ITV to open the original Coronation Street sets at Quay Street in Manchester and Emmerdale sets in Leeds.

The Northern Echo: Picture: Continuum Attractions/ITVPicture: Continuum Attractions/ITV

Continuum operates a group of UK-wide attractions including York’s Chocolate Story and Mary Kings Close in Edinburgh. 

Ms Delaney added: “It has been a tough 18 months.

"However, we have reopened all our sites now and we are trading again. This new arrangement with ITV helps to propel the company forward into a brighter future.

“We have several other leisure attraction concepts in shopping centres in the pipeline – it’s an expanding market for us.”