ITV's flagship reality show, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, is facing a significant viewership crisis, having lost close to one million viewers each night since its Sunday launch. This dramatic decline has sparked a wave of criticism on social media, particularly from the show's traditional older audience.
A Steep Decline in Overnight Figures
The launch episode on Sunday managed a peak audience of 7.2 million viewers, with an average of 6.7 million. However, this opening figure was already one million lower than the previous year's launch. The situation worsened rapidly, with Monday night's broadcast dropping to a peak of 6.3 million (average 5.7 million). By Tuesday, the show hit a new low, attracting a peak of just five million viewers and an average of 4.4 million.
This consistent nightly loss stands in stark contrast to the show's performance in 2023, where 7.7 million tuned in for the launch and 7.1 million returned for the first main episode.
A Generational Divide in Viewer Engagement
The plummeting ratings reveal a clear generational split. While older viewers are switching off in droves, the show has reportedly seen a nine percent increase in viewers aged 16 to 34. ITV sources suggest the overnight figures don't tell the whole story, pointing to consolidated data that includes catch-up viewing.
The source told the Mail: 'It's all in the consolidated figures, Aitch and AngryGinge's fans will not be sitting down to watch it live, Gen Z tend to watch on catch up.'
This younger engagement is powerfully demonstrated by voting numbers. On Monday night, a staggering 1.5 million votes were cast via the app, leading to Gen Z campmates—rapper Aitch, 25, and Twitch star Angry Ginge, 24—being selected for Bushtucker Trials. Angry Ginge, who boasts over five million social media followers, was also voted for a trial by his fanbase during the launch show.
Older Viewers Voice Their Displeasure
Meanwhile, many older viewers have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to announce they are abandoning the series. Common complaints include an unfamiliar cast list and perceived lack of authenticity.
One viewer declared they were 'wiping I'm A Celeb from my schedule', while another lamented, 'I'm A Celeb is just a massive let down when it comes to the cast list, not like Traitors, just a bunch of people desperate to be a bit more famous.'
Another added: 'I would like to watch I'm A Celeb but I don't recognise half the people in there.' Criticism also targeted the show's content, with one person noting, 'It's only been on for three days and they have already started crying, watching them fake cry is very dull.'
The show's struggle is accentuated by the recent runaway success of its BBC rival, The Celebrity Traitors. The premiere of that show attracted 6.5 million viewers, making it the biggest-ever launch for The Traitors in the UK, and the series finale peaked at an impressive 11 million viewers.
