Julia Morris has been hit with diva rumours yet again as sources from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia reveal a recent budget cut has sparked some ‘big meltdowns’.
The comedian, 56, who has hosted the star-studded series since its debut in 2015, is said to be furious that her ‘backstage requests’ have been ‘halved’.
Insiders working closely with the show told Daily Mail Australia that the TV presenter has had to ‘give up her luxuries’ to keep within budget this year.
‘The upcoming series of I’m A Celebrity has been facing some setbacks due to “budget issues” and everyone has been affected by the tightening of the belt,’ one Network Ten source claimed.
‘Let’s just say that a few people known for their previous demands were not happy.
‘Ten doesn’t have the budget they once had and some of the long standing crew and Julia Morris have noticed that the 11th series is far from the “big budget production” it once was.’
A former producer of the series said the money being spent to ‘lavish’ hosts Julia Morris and Dr Chris Brown—who has since been replaced with Robert Irwin—and ‘lure’ celebrities to I’m A Celebrity in its early years ‘was quite ridiculous’.
‘That era was all before streaming platforms started to cannibalise the free to air networks,’ they added.
‘When I’m a Celeb started, Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris were living polar opposite lives to the ‘celebrities’ in “the jungle” and that was kind of done on purpose.
‘It was hilarious to watch Julia with perfect hair and perfect nails from the salon and with different designer dresses each night while the likes of Chrissie Swan and Shane Warne would fester away in camp.
‘Wearing the same clothes and in desperate need of a toothbrush! That juxtaposition was perfectly curated.’
Another casting producer said hosting I’m A Celebrity was once ‘one of the most sought after gigs in Australian TV history’.
‘That all changed when ITV Studios Australia were handed half the budget they were accustomed to for this upcoming series,’ they alleged.
‘[The 2025 season] is going to be massively affected and that hasn’t gone down well.
‘Julia has had her backstage requests halved and that hasn’t been an easy conversation for the producers that are accustomed to treating the long standing host like a queen,’ the insider added.
They went on to say that the ‘mantra’ on set of the once popular reality TV series is that if the show is to continue, then ‘everyone on board has to give up their luxuries’.
The source said: ‘However, I don’t think Julia was aware of some of those usual sweeteners being axed.
‘The extras to keep Julia happy during the filming of the annual series have all but dried up and I don’t think this is the dream job it once was.’
Another former producer remarked: ‘I would dare say the people who have been on this show since day one will be the ones throwing the biggest tantrums.’
Daily Mail Australia have reached out to Julia and Network Ten for further comment.
It’s not the first time insider claims have emerged about Julia’s alleged ‘diva’ behaviour on set of I’m A Celebrity Australia.
The media personality is said to have locked horns with producers on the series before former co-host Dr Chris, 46, left for a Channel Seven gig in 2023.
Sources told Daily Mail Australia in March 2024 that Julia was throwing tantrums on set if she didn’t get her way, leading to tensions between the two stars.
And insider claimed there were times when Dr Chris was asked to host segments of the show on his own when Julia refused to come out of the trailer.
‘Julia would often throw tantrums on set if she didn’t get her way,’ the source said.
‘One day in particular she refused to return to set if she didn’t get a rather obscure “feather joke” away.
‘Leaving Dr Chris to be asked to go on solo if the debate wasn’t resolved.’
They went on to say Julia’s tantrums may not ‘be as easy to hide’ with Chris’ replacement host Robert Irwin, who took his place in 2023.
‘If Julia acts like a child again and leaves a 20-year-old to pick up the pieces it probably won’t be as easy to hide,’ the insider said.
Chris was allegedly very tolerant of Julia and her quirks, and was considered the key ingredient to making their dynamic work on the Channel Ten show.
However, Julia was said to have been ‘disappointed’ when Chris decided to leave their award-winning series to host new rival Seven show Dream House.
‘[Chris] was quite disappointed to hear that Julia had addressed his departure publicly,’ the source added.
‘That wasn’t how he saw their relationship and it certainly has impacted their friendship moving forward.
‘In fact it has highlighted some old wounds from their time together over the 9 years.’
