Production on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! was thrown into disarray today when contestants were urgently evacuated from camp during a severe thunderstorm that hit the Australian jungle.
Emergency Evacuation Protocol Activated
The dramatic incident occurred at 2pm Australian time (4am UK time) when a powerful storm system moved across the Gold Coast location, bringing torrential rain, thunder and lightning that forced immediate safety measures.
A show insider revealed to the Daily Mail: "Our health and safety weather contingencies kicked in and we evacuated the celebrities immediately to the Bush Telegraph until the storm passed and it was safe to return to camp."
The evacuation saw celebrities including social media sensation Angry Ginge, rapper Aitch, former EastEnders star Shona McGarty, Coronation Street actress Lisa Riley, and glamour model Kelly Brook rushed to the safety of the Bush Telegraph hut, which serves as the only completely sealed area in the camp.
Production Delays and Aftermath
The severe weather conditions caused filming delays of three hours as the celebrities remained sheltered in the confined space while the storm raged outside. The intense rainfall lasted for approximately one hour, but the disruption to filming schedules extended much longer.
Once the storm subsided and it was deemed safe to return to camp, the celebrities emerged to assess the damage and spent the remainder of the day attempting to dry their soaked bedding and towels around the campfire.
Despite the camp featuring a protective canopy suspended 50 feet above the ground to shield contestants from rain and keep the campfire burning, it proved insufficient against the storm's intensity, forcing the emergency relocation.
Weather Problems Plague This Year's Series
This isn't the first weather-related issue to affect the current series. During Saturday night's broadcast, presenter Ant McPartlin nearly took a tumble while sheltering under an umbrella alongside co-host Declan Donnelly, highlighting the challenging conditions faced by both contestants and production staff.
Although this year has been relatively dry compared to the previous series - which marked the wettest in the show's 24-year history - continuous rainfall remains a significant concern for producers.
Last year's excessive rain caused serious problems including:
- Flooding throughout the jungle camp
- Fallen trees blocking access roads
- Vehicles struggling through flooded areas
- Early departures of contestants Grace Dent and Jamie-Lynn Spears
A show source explained the impact of persistent bad weather: "The jungle camp cannot cope with this level of rain and when it rains like this, it's miserable. It dampens the mood and ultimately ruins the show."
Despite the morning's chaos, camp operations have resumed, with several contestants participating in trials ahead of tonight's episode. I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues Monday at 9pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
