Kiosk Kev Is Actually A Reality TV Star And Nobody Noticed

ITV

Fans of I’m A Celebrity noticed more than one key difference in Sunday night’s launch show – Kiosk Keith was missing, instead replaced by the equally mysterious Kiosk Kev.

Taking up his place behind the infamous Outback Shack, Kev didn’t give much away about himself as he silently rejected the celebrities’ bid for treats.

But now his true identity has been revealed, as it turns out Kiosk Kev is actually Mark Herlaar – a 53-year-old lime farmer from Toowoomba in Queensland, where I’m A Celeb is filmed.

According to The Sun, Mark, aka Kev, was recruited by ITV after advertising himself as an actor on casting websites.

So what has he appeared in? Well, the lime farmer took part in the 2017 Australian Survivor, so he’ll be able to sympathise with the celebrities as they get back to basics in the jungle.

He soon became a fan-favourite on the programme, loved by viewers for his selfless nature. However, he was quickly voted out of the Samoan jungle by his fellow contestants after only 11 days.

Speaking to news.com.au after his short-lived adventure, Mark described how he could never have pretended be anyone but himself.

He explained:

What I wanted to do is show people who I was. I didn’t go in there to try and be someone else. I just thought, be yourself, just has I was on my audition tape, and that’s what I did.

I was really happy with it. I could happy I could be in an environment where I could be me.

That’s all well and good, but I’m wondering if we’ll get to see his true self as Kev? Maybe he’ll break the rules and give us a glimpse into his personality.

Initially, fans couldn’t handle the change in ownership of the shack, and took to social media to express their shock,

One wrote:

shocked, gutted and ultimately sad. i can take im a celeb bringing in people who havent done anything notable since 2013. i can even take them replacing ant mcpartlin. but replacing KIOSK KEITH with fkn Kiosk KEV!?!?

this is disgusting on so many levels u raging psychopaths

While another said:

And another exclaimed:

Kiosk Keith replaced with Kiosk Kev? I don’t like this. THIS IS CHANGE AND IT IS NOT COMFORTABLE.

Despite this, in just a few days fans of the show have grown to love the shack’s new bearded replacement.

The Sun previously reported that a source from the show said: 

Everyone on set is really pleased with the new Kiosk Kev character. Viewers will love him but the celebrities will be scared stiff! Like Kiosk Keith, Kev is a man of few words and doesn’t speak.

Kev won’t take any nonsense from the celebrities, and he looks very intimating!

To be honest, I’m hoping he has something up his sleeve to make it that bit more interesting. Can you imagine a segment where Kiosk Kev gets involved in the Dingo Dollars challenge?!

That would be 10/10 telly entertainment. Who do I write to about getting that sorted out?

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Lucy Connolly

A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).