I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! host Ant McPartlin sent a wave of concern through the show's fanbase during Sunday night's episode, with viewers immediately picking up on a marked change in his voice.
Fans Beg for Intervention as Ant's Voice Falters
The presenting duo of Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 50, returned to ITV screens with their trademark humour. However, within minutes, Ant's noticeably husky and strained voice became the main talking point for audiences on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
During a segment ahead of Emmerdale star Lisa Riley's trial, Ant's vocal cords clearly struggled. Co-host Dec Donnelly responded by hitting him on the back, quipping: 'Cough it up son!' A playful Ant retorted: 'I'll shove you over there in a minute!' as he feigned pushing him over a banister.
The light-hearted moment did little to quell viewer anxiety. One fan posted: 'Poor Ant's voice.' Another pleaded: 'Someone get Ant a lemsip #ImACeleb.' Further comments included 'Oh dear Ant doesn't sound very well at all' and requests for someone to fetch 'some honey and lemon to the jungle.' The consensus was clear: worried fans were urging ITV bosses to step in and assist the ailing presenter.
Eddie Kadi's Emotional Exit Leaves Fans 'Devastated'
The health scare for Ant came on the same night the camp said goodbye to its second celebrity. Comedian Eddie Kadi, 42, was voted out after finding himself in the bottom two alongside model Vogue Williams.
His departure left many fans 'devastated', with numerous viewers claiming he was one of the camp's most 'underrated' members. Many argued that Vogue or fellow campmate Kelly Brook should have been eliminated instead.
In his emotional exit interview, Eddie reflected on how the experience had 'changed his life'. He connected his time in the Australian rainforest to his heritage, stating: 'Coming from Congo, where we have a massive rainforest, I feel like I've had a taste of what my grandparents experienced... I realise now why they were so humble. They were joyful regardless of any situation.'
Fan reaction on X was sympathetic. One user wrote: 'Eddie was the most underrated Campmate. Seems like such a lovely guy.' Another complained: 'I'm so surprised that Kelly is still there! Eddie didn't deserve to go yet, so annoyed.'
Burnt Rice and Buttergate: Tensions Rise in Camp
The episode was packed with drama beyond the exit. The day began with new camp leader Shona and deputy Lisa enjoying the treehouse, while Eddie was tasked with cooking breakfast rice.
His decision to put the rice on and then take a shower backfired spectacularly, leading to a burnt offering that left the camp less than impressed. Jack joked it was 'Eddie's first race, so he's warming up to it.'
Further tension arose when contraband butter was discovered in the camp's food trunk. Camp leader Shona confessed to using it, forcing a punishment choice: step down or lose two trial stars. She chose to abdicate her leadership role.
A subsequent vote saw Ruby win the leadership by a landslide, declaring 'Things are about to change' and appointing Shona as her footstool. The episode set the stage for a dramatic final week in the jungle.
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues Monday on ITV1 at 9pm and is available to stream on ITVX.
