The I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! camp was dramatically evacuated after a severe thunderstorm brought giant hailstones and lightning strikes to the area. ITV show chiefs activated emergency procedures, rushing the celebrities to safety in the Bush Telegraph, where they remained for an hour as the worst of the storm passed.
The Queensland Bureau of Meteorology had issued a warning for a 'very dangerous storm' generating 'large to giant hailstones, damaging winds and heavy rainfall causing flash flooding'. Production was delayed by up to three hours, and the camp was left drenched, with contestants' possessions saturated.
A programme insider said: 'Our health and safety weather contingencies kicked in and we evacuated the celebrities immediately to the Bush Telegraph until the storm passed.' The evacuation only occurs in extreme situations, according to insiders, who noted that producers use sophisticated weather monitoring technology.
The cramped conditions in the Bush Telegraph, with all 12 contestants inside, were described as 'very, very uncomfortable'. The damp conditions are expected to bring out leeches and other biting insects, potentially increasing tensions in the camp.
Last year, the camp also faced unprecedented rainfall and flooding, leading to a similar evacuation. It remains unclear whether the recent evacuation scenes will be broadcast.
