Will Kiosk Keith Return To I’m A Celeb In 2019?
Fans of the hugely popular British TV show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! will have noticed a missing familiar face back last year.
Kiosk Keith, The Show’s Stony-Faced Resident Shopkeeper, Was Famously Fired From The Show For ‘Inappropriate Behaviour’ In 2018.
As rumours of the next batch of celebs to enter the jungle fly, find out more about why one of the show’s staple cast members vanished without a trace…
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
The Show
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 17 years, you’ll definitely have heard about this iconic British TV show.
I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (a.k.a. I’m a Celeb) is a survival reality television game show that airs live on ITV from Australia. A yearly event, it involves a group of celebrities living together within a jungle camp with very little.
Each celeb takes part in challenges to secure additional food and treats for the group. Furthermore, they compete to avoid being voted out by viewers during their stay in a bid to be crowned as “Jungle King/Queen”.
The show has been aired yearly since 2002 and as of 2018 is watched by around 12 million people. Regular names on the show are TV presenter duo Declan Donnelly and Anthony McPartlin, as well as shopkeeper Kiosk Keith.
The Contestants
I’m a Celeb has enjoyed some pretty big name contestants over the years, including Peter Andre, Ashley Roberts and John Barrowman.
The reality show has seen its fair share of on-air dramas over the years and many contestants have walked out or withdrawn from the competition. Johnny Rotten, former Sex Pistols star, famously threw a huge tantrum when he WASN’T voted off of the show back in 2004. Using some unsavoury words about voters, he ended up starting a fire on the edge of camp in protest and eventually walked out.
And who can forget Gillian McKeith’s iconic ‘fainting’ drama back in 2010?
Regular Appearances: Ant, Dec & Kiosk Keith
Ant and Dec present I’m a Celeb and have done so since it first aired in 2002. However, Holly Willoughby did replace Ant as Dec’s co-host in 2018 while Ant attended rehab.
It is expected that Ant will return to the jungle to present with Dec once again in 2019, so that’s good news!
Another regular on the show until 2018 was of course Kiosk Keith. Unlike Ant, however, it would seem that the nation’s favourite shopkeeper may not be making a similar triumphant return…
Kiosk Keith
Who Is He?
Kiosk Keith’s real name is Raymond Grant. He first appeared on screen in 2013, but actually has worked on the show since 2002.
Originally hired as a set builder on the show, producers introduced Keith as the show’s shopkeeper in 2013.
The 52-year-old ran the camp shop in total silence and fans loved his grumpy attitude. Celebs approach him to collect prizes for ‘Dingo Dollar’ challenges.
Interestingly, Grant still worked as an artistic set builder alongside his part as Kiosk Keith. In fact, his ex-wife Donna revealed that Grant received no extra pay for his starring role:
“They just get him on screen when they need him to do the shack. They will radio him and say, ‘Look, we’re doing the shack now, come up. And he goes up and does Kiosk Keith. And then he goes back to work. He’s not getting paid the kind of money he should be getting paid for Kiosk Keith – Kiosk Keith’s huge.”
Indeed, Raymond’s pay of just AUS$25,000 (£14,000) to work on the show seems pretty meagre.
Over The Years
Keith quickly became a massive fan favourite, winning viewers over with his consistent grumpiness. His popular Twitter page bio was typically tongue-in-cheek:
“Aussie LAD born and bred. Employee of the month at The Outback Shack. I’m the biggest Celebrity in I’m a Celebrity.”
The kiosk legend has had some hilarious appearances on I’m A Celeb, including mixing up some shocking drinks for contestants in his ‘Refreshment Shack’. His grumpy exterior, total silence, disgusting drinks… and a pink flowery apron? Brilliant!
In 2017 series winner Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo discovered an erotic novel penned by Keith in one of the challenges, prompting her to attempt to flirt with him. Quite unsuccessfully!
He’s always been a hit with contestants and crew alike – Ant and Dec shared this cheeky photo in 2015:
Where Did It All Go Wrong?
Why Was He Sacked?
Fans quickly noticed something amiss in 2017 when, partway through the show, Kiosk Keith mysteriously disappeared and the show introduced a temporary replacement. Ant and Dec brushed off his absence at the time, saying he just needed a day off and assured viewers of their favourite shopkeeper’s imminent return.
But Grant never returned. In January 2018 it came to light that Kiosk Keith has been fired from the show. Accused of arriving to work drunk, he also allegedly behaved ‘inappropriately’ toward a female colleague.
Ex-wife Donna said of the incident:
“A young girl walked past and he slapped her on the arse. Everyone laughed. She went to the bosses and said it was sexual harassment. I’m not condoning that he slapped her on the bottom. No one wants that. But he’s being made out to be this horrible man when he really isn’t. We’ve had a lot of differences over the years but he’s not a sexual predator.”
Regardless of Donna’s opinion, I’m a Celeb bosses were clearly unhappy with Kiosk Keith’s behaviour and there was no sign of him when I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 2018 aired. Instead, a new face appeared in the Outback Shack…
Who Has Replaced Kiosk Keith?
Kiosk Kath
The I’m a Celeb producers didn’t leave the Outback Shack unattended, however, as Kiosk Kath surprised viewers with a temporary appearance.
Only seen briefly, Kath was as stoic and silent as her predecessor, although most viewers didn’t seem to warm to her. Many called for Kiosk Keith’s return, saying he was irreplaceable.
Kiosk Kev
Apparently not as irreplaceable as fans thought! Dec cheerfully explained the change to temporary co-host Holly Willoughby:
“Remember in Neighbours when Lucy Robinson was sent to boarding school and she came home from the holidays and she was a completely different actress? Well it’s a little bit like that.”
Kiosk Kev, a.k.a Mark Herlaar, is an Australian lime farmer and former reality star. He has appeared on the Aussie version of survivor and once took part in iconic game show Family Feud.
Viewers have mixed reviews about the bushy bearded and arguably intimidating new shopkeeper, with some saying he looks like a ‘serial killer’ and calling for Kiosk Keith to return. Other viewers are more open-minded about the newest addition to the jungle team:
There was definitely a lot more love for Kiosk Keith than poor Kiosk Kev… will this sway the producers for 2019?
Will Kiosk Keith Return In 2019?
Show producers released a statement before the 2018 series began saying:
“Ray is no longer under contract on the show. There are no plans for him to return this year.”
There’s plenty of rumours swirling at the moment on potential I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 2019 contestants. So far, the only announcement from producers is that Emily Atak and Adam Thomas are to join the Extra Camp spin off show.
There’s no word yet on whether the popular fan favourite shopkeeper of Kiosk Keith will return, or if Kev will be back. Who knows, perhaps Kiosk Kath will return, or there may be a fresh face again in 2019!
Sadly, it seems that Kiosk Keith’s off-air antics may have been too much for producers to let him back on the show. Although, there were rumours last year that everyone’s favourite Aussie was in talks with ITV bosses to return in a different capacity… so watch this space!
