I'm a Celebrity hires furloughed North Wales workers as coronavirus keeps arts venues closed

Furloughed workers within the arts have been temporarily employed on I'm a Celebrity.

The new series will be filmed in Abergele and is set to provide jobs for the local community.

This includes a recent recruitment of experienced production runners within the area by ITV.

They aren't the only local professionals involved with the upcoming TV project though.

North Wales Live can exclusively reveal that furloughed theatre staff are also being used.

Technicians from Venue Cymru and Theatr Colwyn began working on the production this month.

Eight employees joined the show last Monday (September 14) along with an additional two yesterday.

The staff, all of whom had been furloughed, are now expected to remain on set for another 10 days.

They will be paid by ITV and are currently assisting crew on location at Gwrych Castle.

Those involved account for 50 percent of the permanent staff within Venue Cymru's tech department.

And it's hoped that ITV will extend their contracts in the coming weeks to cover production itself.

It could also offer roles on the series to additional furloughed theatre staff during filming of the show.

This may include more technicians as well as those in other departments, such as in catering.

The news comes after Venue Cymru confirmed recently that it would remain closed until December.

A number of its employees were put on furlough earlier this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The ten technicians will no longer have to rely on furlough though as they're now temporarily working.

And even after the project concludes, they're expected to be kept on at the theatre in some capacity.

Confirming the I'm a Celebrity news, a Venue Cymru spokesperson said it was an "honour" for all involved.

In a statement, they said: "It is an honour to link up with ITV by providing members of Venue Cymru's technical team to assist them while they are on location at Gwrych Castle."

Want more news like this? Sign up to theNorth Wales Live newsletter here

The spokesperson referred to the collaboration as a "great opportunity" and said employees are "all really happy to utilise their skills and expertise working on such an exciting project."

"It is all credit to their talent," they continued, "that has enabled Venue Cymru and Conwy County Borough Council to be part of such a major event for North Wales."

They added: "We look forward to continue talking with ITV and Gwrych Trust management over the coming weeks to explore other opportunities."

And Dr. Mark Baker, chairman of the Gwyrch Castle Preservation Trust, also praised the collaboration.

He said: "We have a very talented team at Venue Cymru and Theatr Colwyn."

The trust founder added that he's "really pleased that they are being utilised by ITV," and suggested that "as the production grows, [he's] sure more will follow."

ITV have been approached for comment.

I'm a Celebrity will return for its 20th anniversary series on ITV later this autumn.