I’m A Celebrity has only just kicked off but there’s already drama on set as it’s been reported that the crew have refused to film at night after spotting ‘ghostly figures’.
This year’s ITV show has relocated from the jungles of Australia to Gwrych Castle in north Wales, which has long been reported as ‘haunted’.
And according to reports, several ‘horror-stricken’ staff members on the show are said to be fearful of filming when the sun goes down after spying shadowy figures and hearing ‘loud noises’ around the castle.
Haunted? I’m A Celebrity has only just kicked off but there’s already drama on set as it’s been reported that the crew have refused to film at night after spotting ‘ghostly figures’
Production members are said to have seen faces in certain parts of the ruined Regency era castle, with the crew insisting on moving around the historic building in groups when it gets dark.
A source told The Sun: ‘People thought they saw a figure at one of the windows a couple of nights ago — and that spot has been pretty much off limits ever since.’
While another insider claimed: ‘The place is utterly terrifying at night. Several of the crew are completely horror-stricken and don’t want to go up to the castle.’
They added that though there is plenty of lighting on the main set, there are certain parts of the castle behind-the-scenes that are dark, with the noises heard being ‘extremely spooky’.
Fears: According to reports, several ‘horror-stricken’ staff members on the show are said to be fearful of filming when the sun goes down after spying shadowy figures and hearing ‘loud noises’ around the castle
They added: ‘Even staff who don’t believe in that sort of thing are reluctant to go up to some of parts that were supposed to be used for running equipment and camera positions. If people keep getting scared, bosses are going to have to do something to combat it.’
MailOnline have contacted I’m A Celebrity representatives for comment.
It comes after viewers noticed a shadowy figure stood at one of the castle windows during the first episode of the show on Sunday night.
New location: This year’s ITV show has relocated from the jungles of Australia to Gwrych Castle in north Wales, which has long been reported as ‘haunted’
While rumours of the castle being haunted have been discussed at length in the lead up to this year’s series, no-one expected a ghostly sighting this early on.
One of the medieval-style windows appeared to have a spectral shape stood in it as the camera panned across one shot of the castle.
The most famed ghost at the castle is said to be previous lady of the house Winifred Hesketh, the Countess of Dundonald, who died in 1924.
The apparition of a woman has been seen by several eye-witnesses over the years – sometimes seen in a red dress, other times in white, said to be floating.
Was THAT the ghostly countess? I’m A Celeb viewers spotted a spectral figure in one of ‘haunted’ Gwrych Castle’s windows on the first night of the new series
Vengeful bride: The most famed ghost at the castle is said to be previous lady of the house Winifred Hesketh, the Countess of Dundonald, who died in 1924
The ghostly countess is said to be a vengeful spirit, reeling after her husband – Scottish aristocrat Douglas Cochrane, the 12th Earl of Dundonald – removed all of the valuables from their several properties.
A chilling photo taken 10 years ago shows a pale, shadowy young woman on the first floor — in what used to be a magnificent banquet hall.
Some locals also believe that the spirit of a servant girl who died falling off a horse haunts the land. Others say ghosts of former groundskeepers have been seen around the 200-year-old castle, amid its 250 acres of deer park.
Winifred inherited the castle from her father in 1894. She was married to Douglas when she was 19 and he was 26, against her will.
Most haunted: The apparition of a woman has been seen by several eye-witnesses over the years – sometimes seen in a red dress, other times in white, said to be floating
They were unhappy, with Douglas rarely at the castle, while Winifred doted on it, at one point in talks with the royal family about making it their Welsh residence.
She died, however, in 1924 of heart failure, with the royals abandoning plans to take over the castle, apparently goaded by Douglas.
Following Winifred’s death, Douglas stopped their children from living at Gwrych and took it upon himself to sell his late wife’s art, literature and jewellery collection, against the wishes in her will.
Desperate to amass a fortune out of it, he tried to sell the castle off as a quarry site, then as a hotel, but his plans were constantly thwarted – with legend suggesting Winifred continued to interfere from beyond the grave.
Creepy accommodation? 10 celebrities are currently residing in Gwrych castle, where the shadowy figure has reportedly been spotted