I'm A Celeb 2019: Ant and Dec make Prince Andrew 'sweat' joke

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly made Prince Andrew the target of their jokes as they launched the latest series of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

As the hosts of the ITV reality show introduced this year’s celebrity line-up they made several references to the Prince’s disastrous Newsnight interview, in which he claimed he wasn't "profusely sweating" when he danced with then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts because he has a medical condition which meant he couldn't sweat.

McPartlin said the famous contestants were, "sweating" with nerves, prompting pal Donnelly to quip, "Not everyone can sweat".

McPartlin went on: "And what a line up we've got in store for you this year. Ten celebrities all of them very nervous, all of them sweating."

Donnelly interjected: "Presuming they can sweat, not everyone can sweat apparently," interrupted.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York chose this weekend to speak publicly for the first time about his links to sex offender billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, and allegations he'd had sex with Roberts, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein to be a sex slave. The Duke of York denied all accusations of wrong-doing.

Read More: Prince Andrew's PR adviser quit over 'disaster' BBC interview

McPartlin and Donnelly were as cheeky as ever as they were reunited on the jungle reality show.

McPartlin pled guilty to drink-driving in April 2018 after he was found to be more than than twice the legal alcohol limit while driving his Mini in London in March 2018. He was suspended from work at ITV for several months and sought rehabilitation treatment, leaving Donnelly to host the show with Holly Willoughby last year.

And as the Geordie duo burst back onto screen side by side Donnelly said: “I’m back, he’s back...” before McPartlin interrupted, “We’re all back,” and they launched into their usual jokes and camaraderie.

Tonight’s episode saw Keeping Up With The Kardashian’s star Caitlyn Jenner, 70, enter the jungle along with Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle, 34, and 53-year-old Arsenal and England star turned sports pundit Ian Wright MBE.

They were joined by 26-year-old radio DJ Roman Kemp, son of actor and singer Martin Kemp, as well as Irish comedian Andrew Maxwell, 44, best known for narrator of reality show Ex On The Beach.

Read more: Declan Donnelly admits he thought partnership would not survive

Also in the line-up were EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa, 27, Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway, 52, Myles Stephenson, 28, of X Factor-winning boyband Rak-Su, Radio DJ Adele Roberts, 40, and 34-year-old rugby player James Haskell.

Half of the celebrities were challenged with swimming from a yacht to race to an island and win the first pick of the other contestants to be their teammate.

They then competed to become Power Pairs and win a bed in the main camp.