The highly anticipated launch of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!'s 25th series was thrown into chaos on Sunday night as viewers were left furious after being unable to vote due to a malfunctioning app.
Voting Frenzy and 'Fix' Claims
Shortly after the first episode aired, a wave of discontent swept across social media as fans discovered the official voting app was not functioning. Many took to platform X, formerly Twitter, to voice their frustrations, with one user declaring, 'I'm a celebrity is a fix. Can't vote cos the app doesn't work.' Another lamented, 'Would be nice if they sorted this app out, it didn't work for a lot of people and we weren't able to vote.' The technical issue prevented viewers from participating in the first crucial vote of the series, which determined who would face the initial Bushtucker Trial.
A Spectacular Start Down Under
Despite the voting fiasco, the show's launch in Australia was a dramatic affair. Hosts Ant McPartlin, 49, and Declan Donnelly, 50, returned to helm the programme, introducing the new cohort of celebrities to the jungle's unique challenges. The stars, including Kelly Brook, 45, who was quickly tipped as the early favourite to win, faced a gruelling initiation. Several contestants, including rapper Aitch, 25, and comedian Eddie Kadi, 42, had to parachute from helicopters onto the beach.
The first challenge involved wading through fish guts and offal to win a coveted spot in the luxury getaway car, which offered the fastest route to camp, the comfiest beds, and a steak dinner. Aitch and Eddie Kadi emerged victorious from the slime, securing their luxurious entry. They were joined by Jack Osbourne, 40, and social media star AngryGinge, 24, who won their own separate competition.
Camp Life and Creepy Crawlies
For the remaining celebrities, the journey to camp was far less glamorous. Kelly Brook, Martin Kemp, 64, Shona McGarty, 34, Alex Scott, 41, Ruby Wax, 72, and Lisa Riley, 49, were crammed into a grimy 'cockie' van. Their task was to retrieve stars for camp by unlocking containers, all while being swarmed by thousands of insects.
The scene was one of panic and hilarity, with Alex Scott squealing, 'They're all down my bloody bra!' and Kelly Brook screaming, 'Oh my god, they're biting my t***!' Despite the ordeal, the team managed to secure six stars, though their reward of emu neck was met with disgust, prompting Ruby Wax to quip, 'It was repulsive. For six stars we should have got a burger.'
As the episode concluded, hosts Ant and Dec revealed that, despite the app issues, viewers had voted for AngryGinge and Ruby Wax to face the next terrifying trial, named 'The Divey'. The launch also saw some fans expressing disappointment over changes to the show's iconic opening titles.
In a surprising turn, it was revealed that Kelly Brook is thought to be receiving a fee of £80,000 for her participation, significantly less than the previously rumoured £300,000. The presenter had previously declared she would never do the show, stating in 2018 that she would rather work in her local pub than eat sheep testicles.
