In a dramatic departure from tradition, the iconic helicopter arrival of hosts Ant and Dec for I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! was abruptly cancelled this year, with producers blaming adverse weather and stringent health and safety protocols.
Weather Woes Ground Presenters
The planned grand entrance, a staple of the show's launch, could not be signed off by safety officials after heavy rain made the flight too risky. Instead of swooping into the jungle, the duo had to make a considerably less glamorous arrival by car to greet the new batch of celebrity contestants.
Dec explained the situation, stating, "We had a chopper on the ground and basically it started raining and we couldn't get in the chopper." Ant, ever the comedian, quipped in response, "Health and safety gone mad." A show source confirmed the cautious approach, revealing, "They couldn't take any chances."
A Jungle of Contrasting Conditions
The Australian weather has been wildly unpredictable for the production. The camp was first battered by sweeping storms on Sunday, which triggered an influx of leeches and bugs. However, in a dramatic turnaround, the area was then hit with a sizzling 30-degree heatwave by Monday.
An insider noted that the wet weather had "played havoc with the filming," but the subsequent heat was perfect for encouraging the celebrities to take part in the famous Jungle Shower segments.
Kelly Brook's Body Confidence Mission
Meanwhile, contestant Kelly Brook has vowed to embrace her curves in the jungle. The 46-year-old radio host addressed potential online trolls head-on before entering the camp, acknowledging that she is no longer a "20-year-old bikini model."
She expressed hope that viewers would be accepting of her current figure, saying, "I am older, but I am still strong and I am still fit, and that is the most important thing." Brook, who ran a marathon this year, stated she has "embraced" her body and feels "really confident."
She anticipates the experience will be "the most challenging thing I have ever done in my life," and is particularly concerned about mornings without her usual coffee and sugar. Kelly, who celebrated her 47th birthday with colleagues before flying out, is hoping for a fun dynamic with her fellow campmates.
