ITV is set to launch what it promises will be the toughest series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! yet, with a major shake-up designed to force contestants to 'fight more' and 'earn their keep'. This comes after the 2023 series was criticised for its tame line-up and lack of drama following a strict 'no politician' rule.
No More Home Comforts: A New Jungle Regime
In a significant shift, producers have removed the popular 'luxury item' feature, where celebrities were sent comforting gifts from home. The aim is to keep campmates on their toes and prevent them from becoming too comfortable. Instead, stars can now earn a framed picture of a loved one by successfully completing a challenge.
The show's executive producer, Olly Nash, told the Daily Mail: "It's a tough and gruelling show, and there's nothing wrong with driving that home. We need to see more celebrities earning their keep, that's the most important thing." He added that this year's celebrities will have to step up and face the music, with no option to 'sit on the beds in the back'.
Snakes, Challenges, and a Getaway Car
The challenges begin from the very start with the introduction of the 'Getaway Car'. The first ten celebrities will be split into two groups. The first two in each group to complete a series of gruelling initiations, including wading through fish guts, will win a seat in the car with a glass of fizz to take them to the main camp. The remaining three from each group will travel in the far less desirable 'Coco van'.
Life in camp will also be harder. To get a bath, two campmates must cycle on a tandem bike to pump water. Furthermore, the jungle itself presents a greater threat. Producers have reported a significant infestation of pythons in the camp area. Olly Nash revealed, "I have seen more snakes in this build phase then I ever have done before, huge great pythons almost as long as this log." He noted seeing six or seven in the last two weeks alone, an unusual occurrence as snakes typically scatter during construction.
Voting Shake-Up and Camp Life
Responding to viewer feedback, ITV has introduced a new rule for the public vote. If a celebrity is voted for two Bushtucker Trials in a row, they will be exempt from the following vote. This change was prompted by last year's situation where contestant Dean McCullough was voted for seven trials consecutively, leading to fan complaints on social media platform X.
Despite the harsher conditions, the first celebrities to enter the main camp will find more comfortable beds with mattresses, a step up from the standard hammocks. However, with less room to hide and a producer-driven mandate for more conflict, this year's series is engineered for high drama from the outset.
