Coronation Street's Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs on the popular soap, is rumoured to be joining the cast of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.
The 41 year old actor was originally slated to join the reality series in 2023, but a knee injury and subsequent surgery forced him to withdraw. Alan shared his journey with fans on social media, revealing that he had undergone ACL reconstruction surgery and faced a tough "9-12 months of rehabilitation."
The unfortunate timing of his injury, around November 2023, coincided with when the I'm A Celeb team usually jet off to New South Wales in Australia for filming. In an Instagram post, Alan updated fans on his recovery, sharing a picture of himself in bed giving a thumbs up.
He wrote: "ACL Reconstruction surgery. Well, On Friday I underwent ACL reconstruction surgery. I have been told the surgery went really well". He also acknowledged the long road ahead, adding: "I know I have a long 9-12 months of rehabilitation ahead of me but I'm sure with the support of family and friends I'll get there", reports the Mirror.
Despite having to take a break from filming Coronation Street, Alan continued to appear on screens. Now, as a new season of I'm A Celeb is set to air later this year, it seems Alan might finally get his chance to head Down Under.
There's been a rumour going around that "Alan was gutted when circumstances meant he couldn't be considered for the line-up last year" and it seems I'm A Celebrity producers were on the same page. "I'm A Celebrity producers were also disappointed because they often like to have a Corrie star in the mix, and he is a particularly popular member of the cast", said a source.
"Alan and the show bosses are just glad he's now in a position to be part of this year's show - though the official line-up is months away from being confirmed."
Not much is known about the upcoming season for I'm A Celebrity yet, but it is unlikely you will see any political figures this year. Following Nigel Farage and Matt Hancock's time in the jungle, the latter being criticised for using the show to up his popularity after the Covid-19 pandemic, show runners have reportedly ruled out casting any MPs.
With the general election expected this autumn, show bosses want to keep things neutral. "This year, with an election looming, it doesn't feel like the right moment for that", a source told The Daily Mirror. "It's time for something different so it's fair to say no one is seeking any controversial figures from the world of politics at this stage."
