I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! star Reverend Richard Coles looks set to add to his surprise fortune with a big-money deal with one of ITV’s biggest rivals.

The former musician-turned-vicar, 62, already boasts an unlikely fortune that rivals campmate Coleen Rooney, thanks to his TV work, collection of crime novels and career as part of 80s group The Communards.

As viewers prepare to Richard to make his debut in the I’m A Celebrity jungle, it’s emerged that his book series is set to adapted into a Channel 5 murder mystery drama.

According to The Sun, bosses have ordered a series based on his best-selling Canon Clement Mystery series, which has four books so far.

It’s thought that production on the series has already kicked off and filming is due to begin early next year. 

The publication reports that early production listings show that the series will be named after Richard’s first novel Murder Before Evensong.

I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! star Reverend Richard Coles, 62, looks set to add to his surprise fortune with a big-money deal with one of ITV’s biggest rivals

The vicar already boasts an unlikely fortune that rivals campmate Coleen Rooney , thanks to his TV work, collection of crime novels and career as part of 80s group The Communards

The book, released in 2022, focuses Canon Daniel Clement, who is Rector of Champton and lives with his widowed mother.

However, when Bernard de Floures, the patron of Champton’s cousin is found stabbed to death in the back of the church, the once-calm village is thrown into disarray.

Daniel is left to keep the community together as bodies continue to pile up – all the while trying to catch a killer.

Richard is set to enter the jungle in Thursday’s episode alongside Love Island star Maura Higgins but he’s already made his million. 

Most of the celebrities are in for a big pay day following the ITV show but former 80s pop star Rev Coles, who was in The Communards with Jimmy Somerville, has already reaped in the benefits of being the nation’s favourite TV vicar. 

Richard’s firm Mistramark Ltd has paid £179,047 in corporation tax over 2022 and 2023.

The rate at the time was 19 per cent, meaning the company netted around £940k profit.

The business is sitting on £542,977 in ready cash in the bank. It also has healthy reserves of £354,477, which is three times the previous year of £128,736.

As viewers prepare to Richard to make his debut in the I’m A Celebrity jungle, it’s emerged that his book series is set to adapted into a Channel 5 murder mystery drama

Along with his music career, Richard has made his money from a number of successful TV appearances including Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity MasterChef, Songs Of Praise and Newsnight Review, Have I Got News For You? and QI.

Richard has also worked on the radio and has written a number of crime novels and a top selling autobiography.

It comes as this years I’m A Celeb stars estimated earnings were revealed as they star on the ITV show.

Read More How I’m A Celebrity’s Reverend Richard Coles was  ‘destroyed’ by his husband’s death from alcoholism

And Coleen Rooney is thought to bring in an eye-watering amount – with previous reports stating her fee is around £1.5million which would make it the biggest in the show’s history. 

Meanwhile Strictly professional Oti Mabuse is thought to be a getting a £200,000 fee according to the publication, while N-Dubz star Tulisa is estimated to be receiving around the same amount.

Podcaster GK Barry and McFly singer Danny Jones are thought to be getting the same amount as Alan with around £150,000 too.

Alan Halsall from Coronation Street could be getting a payment from ITV bosses of between £100,000 to £150,000 it has been estimated.

Ex boxer Barry McGuigan could scoop £100,000 while Loose Women’s Jane Moore could earn around £120,000 for her stint. 

Next DJ and TV presenter Melvin Odoom is thought to be receiving a fee of around £90,000.

It comes as Richard revealed to MailOnline that he has piled on the pounds thanks to a 5,000 calorie-a-day diet before heading into the I’m a Celebrity jungle.

The star, who now practices as a Church of England priest, confirmed that the canny move has helped him to grow ‘fatter’ before he is forced to switch to a diet of beans and rice.

When asked if he tried to lose weight in preparation for the show, Rev Richard said: ‘My run-up to the show was going on a cruise.

‘I would like to say that I’ve been lowering my calorie intake to prepare for that, but that’s not worked out.

‘I’ve been on a 5,000 calories a day sort of diet. So I think I’m already fatter since my measurements the day before yesterday, and will be for the next set of measurements.

‘So no, I’ve not done that at all. I tried to, and I thought I should because I imagine the body will notice going from 5000 calories a day to 500 calories a day, but it’s good, and I will lose a bit of weight.’

Richard is set to enter the jungle in Thursday’s episode alongside Love Island star Maura Higgins but he’s already made his million 

But the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant warned: ‘I am mostly compeтιтive in a quiz, but if there’s a scramble for a buffet… When I was a vicar, they used to make me not go to the buffet because I would elbow old ladies out the way to get to the pork pies.’

When asked if he would bring his religious faith into the Jungle, the vicar admitted he would ‘absolutely need it’ when it came to Bushtucker trials dealing with height – his biggest fear.

He said: ‘I actually froze with fear on the stepladder the other day on the second rung up. So that will be scary. But I know that there will be somebody burly with a harness nearby.’

But added: ‘I’m quite relaxed about that [sharing his faith]. I’m not going to go around singing All the Christian Soldiers.’