Viewers of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! have expressed their outrage after a beloved element of the ITV reality show was abruptly removed during the new series launch this week. While the programme saw the welcome return of hosts Ant and Dec, along with other familiar jungle staples, fans were quick to notice that the iconic Tombola adverts featuring CGI bugs had mysteriously disappeared.
Jungle Fans Revolt Over Missing Bugs
The animated segments, which traditionally showed computer-generated insects playing mobile games during commercial breaks, have been a staple for years. This series, however, they have been replaced by advertisements featuring people playing the bingo games instead. The change did not go unnoticed, sparking an immediate and vocal backlash across social media platforms.
On the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, fans have been demanding the return of the quirky characters. "WHERES THE TOMBOLA BUGS #ImACeleb," one viewer exclaimed. Another lamented, "The concept of im a celeb removing the tombola bugs #ImACeleb," while a third simply stated, "i just want the tombola bugs back tbf #ImACeleb." The sentiment was clear: a cherished part of the I'm A Celeb experience had been lost.
More Than Just Bugs: A Series of Changes
The discontent among the audience wasn't limited to the missing advertisements. Many viewers also voiced their frustration with the show's new introduction sequence, which had been announced prior to the series beginning. One social media user combined both grievances, posting, "WHERE ARE THE TOMBOLA BUGS?!?! WHERE IS THE OG OPENING HELLO?!?! #ImACeleb." Another critic succinctly advised, "Don’t fix what wasn’t broken #ImACeleb."
Further compounding the rocky start, the production faced another unforeseen issue. As revealed, the series opener was forced to scrap Ant and Dec's dramatic helicopter entrance due to adverse weather conditions. The presenting duo had to arrive by car to greet the new campmates after their flight could not be approved under strict health and safety protocols. Dec explained the situation, stating, "We had a chopper on the ground and basically it started raining and we couldn’t get in the chopper." Ant, ever the joker, quipped, "Health and safety gone mad."
Drama Inside and Outside the Camp
Meanwhile, within the jungle camp itself, the first Bushtucker Trial took place. Campmates Ruby Wax and the YouTuber known as Angry Ginge participated in an eating challenge, successfully securing 10 stars for their fellow celebrities. The pair appear to have formed an unlikely bond, though this came after viewers called for Ruby Wax to be removed from the show following her 'rude' remarks to the YouTuber on Sunday night's episode.
Their dynamic was on full display when, after Angry Ginge revealed his real surname is Burtwistle, Ruby retorted, "Oh, I see why you changed it. It's so not cool." She later commanded him to "get out of [her] way" in front of the cameras, joking, "Don't ever in this show get in my way... You're in my light again." While some appreciated her sharp humour, others were not impressed, with one viewer commenting on X, "Good god Ruby might be the rudest celeb I’ve ever seen on this show #ImACeleb."
I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! continues nightly at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
