Ever since Jack Maynard left I’m A Celebrity, speculation has been mounting over who – if anyone – will replace the YouTube star in the jungle.
And now, the rumour mill is set to go into overdrive after soap actor posted an Instagram message hinting that he’s ready if producers of the ITV reality show need him.
Former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas recently started working on Neighbours – which is, of course, filmed in the same country as I’m A Celeb.
But in his social-media post, he hinted that shooting for the Aussie soap had wrapped. And considering he shared it in the same week that Jack departed the jungle, it could be seen as a ‘come and get me’.
In the pic, Ryan, 33, is seen posing with his Neighbours pals as they dine at a restaurant – and his girlfriend, Lucy Mecklenburgh, 26, is there too. The former TOWIE stunner has spent the last couple of weeks with Ryan Down Under.
Ryan captioned his photo with the sweet message: “Everybody needs good Neighbours #familygoals Thank you, guys, nothing but absolute love.”
Now, correct us if we’re wrong, but don’t people usually thank their work colleagues when they’re leaving?
Certainly, there’s never been any indication that Ryan’s character, loner Rafael Humphreys, will be on Ramsay Street for long.
Read more: Jack Maynard breaks his silence after leaving I’m A Celebrity
He won’t be appearing on our screens until early next year, but Ryan himself has promised a “dark” storyline for the character, so maybe he won’t be hanging around for long.
We’re speculating here, but we’re not the only ones – when Lucy flew over to Australia, fans on social media immediately wondered if she and Ryan would be joining the I’m A Celebrity cast as a couple.
One said to Lucy: “So you and @ryanthomas84 are in Oz – oh, and I’m A Celeb is coming up. Go figure!”
And another exclaimed: “Good luck in the jungle!!! Reason I’m watching.”
Vlogger Jack Maynard, 23, left Australia this week following the emergence of historic tweets in which he made racist and homophobic comments.
Upon his return to Britain, he posted a YouTube video apologising to his 1.2 million subscribers.
Read more: I’m A Celebrity viewers grossed about by contestant’s ‘FART’
Speaking into the camera, he said: “The least you deserved was for me to come home and sit down and talk to you and explain everything that’s been going on.
“I’m so sorry to anyone that I offended, anyone that I upset, anyone I made feel uncomfortable.”