Veteran actor Celia Imrie and Olympic champion Tom Daley were spotted during a dusk location rehearsal at Ardross Castle, giving fans the first glimpse of an unlikely tactical duo. Imrie, 72, arrived brandishing a spiral notebook filled with perceived personality profiles of fellow contestants, while Daley was seen timing a sprint between the dormitory wing and the fire pit, testing routes for clandestine meetings. The Standard confirmed that both names are locked for the nineteen strong cast.
Daley comes fresh from Paris 2024 retirement and told crew members he is “hungrier for gold in mind games than platform diving,” a comment that quickly hit fan forums. Imrie, whose credits range from Calendar Girls to Star Wars spinoff Andor, is approaching the show as “character research”, joking that every glance and whisper could fuel her next script.
Production insiders say the pair bonded over early morning yoga sessions in the castle library and have been discussing how age and athleticism might combine. One rumour claims Imrie offered to be Daley’s “court jester” in public to deflect suspicion, while the diver would serve as secret strategist.
Footage will not be released until the autumn broadcast, but a leaked call sheet lists Daley completing the “dungeons and ladders” challenge in the top 3, with Imrie mid pack yet unscathed.
Social media reaction has been largely positive. A poll on BBC Sounds registered 58 per cent of listeners backing Daley to reach the final 5, while 42 per cent tipped Imrie as the season’s breakout personality. With filming continuing through early May, their evolving partnership is already shaping narrative expectations for 2025.
