I’m A Celebrity standbys get paid five-figure sum – even if they NEVER make it onto the show

I’M A Celebrity standby stars get paid a staggering five-figure sum – even if they don’t make it onto the show.

Richard Madeley‘s sensational exit from the camp this week has seen one of the show’s biggest fears realised – a contestant forced to quit just days into filming.

ITVI’m A Celebrity stars on standby reportedly receive a five-figure sum[/caption]

ITVRichard Madeley threw the show into chaos when he was forced to depart after being rushed to hospital[/caption]

There are now growing concerns there could be a mass exodus of campmates before the show’s first week has ended.

The Good Morning Britain presenter threw the show into chaos when he was forced to depart after being rushed to hospital in the middle of the night.

It’s not the first time that I’m A Celeb bosses have had to deal with the problem of an early exit.

Bosses on the hit ITV series have been ready for incidents like Richard’s sudden exit this week with extra campmates on standby – and some never made it onto the show.

According to former campmate Nicola McLean, a number of celebrities are put on standby, just in case someone is forced to leave the show early.

The 40-year-old glamour model claimed that Timmy Mallett – a former co-star on the show – was on standby for three years before he finally got the nod back in 2008.

Spilling the beans in her Closer magazine column, she wrote: “Aside from the two latecomers, other celebrities are standby in case anyone gets injured or ill – but get sent home once the voting starts, as then it doesn’t matter if someone leaves.

“They travel first class, stay in a hotel and get paid £20,000. Timmy Mallett did that for three years before he got in, but that’s rare because most don’t go in the show.”

The Sun has approached ITV for comment.

During her stint on the show, Nicola finished in sixth place in the competition after impressing viewers in the iconic jungle shower and can-do attitude.

She also claimed that if you appear as a guest on Extra Camp before going on the main show, you won’t ever get to go in the jungle because you would see “how it works too well”.

In the past, Gemma Collins sensationally quit after just three days, while Spencer Matthews was told to leave two days into his jungle experience, later admitting he had a steroid addiction.

ITVAccording to former campmate Nicola McLean, those on standby receive £20,000 – even if they don’t make it onto the show[/caption]