Date set for I’m a Celebrity at Dr Baker's Castle project
The passionate restoration project inspired by a former Rydal Penrhos pupil will once again be thrust into the national spotlight when it starts hosting I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here for a second straight year.
ITV producers decided to utilise the impressive Gwrych Castle site due to ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions preventing the series from being filmed from their usual location in Australia, which will provide another fantastic economic boost to further enhance Dr Mark Baker’s ambitious renovation plans.
Dr Baker, who attended the school from 1996-2003, had a dream to restore the Grade I Listed castle back to its former glory when still a pupil after becoming mesmerised by the prominent landmark en route to Rydal Penrhos every day.
The Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust has done some truly incredible work restoring areas of the site which are now available for the public to enjoy. They were finally able to purchase the site in 2018.
The castle was left to rot for decades before Dr Baker’s plans began coming to fruition, which has seen the former pupil receive support from leading figures such as Prince Charles and Theresa May in recent years.
In addition to his efforts renovating the castle, Dr Baker is also the cabinet member for Arts, Heritage, Libraries and Culture at Conwy County Borough Council and recently managed to put plans in place to save the library in Colwyn Bay.
According to multiple media reports this week, I’m a Celebrity will formally begin on Sunday 21 November, with rumours swirling about which stars will appear in this year’s challenges within the castle.
Dr Baker and Rydal Penrhos still have a close association. The school held a community action day during Activity Week, which saw pupils and staff travel to Gwrych Castle for a clean-up project to get the site looking fantastic for summer holiday visitors.
There was also plenty of excitement when Dr Baker visited the Prep section of the school’s last year to present certificates to pupils in Years 3-6 after they successfully completed a series of tasks linked with an I’m a Celebrity theme.
It promises to be another action-packed series and we are thrilled that Dr Baker’s project continues to get the recognition it undoubtedly deserves.