As a fresh cohort of celebrities prepares to enter the jungle for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!'s 2025 series, they must brace themselves for more than just Bushtucker Trials. The ITV reality show, returning on Sunday, November 16 with hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, enforces a set of peculiar camp regulations that have been revealed by former contestants over the programme's 23-year history.
The Forbidden Flavours: Snack Smuggling
Life in camp is famously fuelled by a basic diet of rice and beans, a menu that only expands if stars are won in challenges. This spartan offering has led many campers to attempt to smuggle in contraband to enhance their meals. In 2010, Gillian McKeith notoriously sneaked salt, herbs, and spices into the jungle hidden in her underwear, starting a trend for culinary deception. More recently, Radio 1 DJ Dean McCullough continued this tradition by being caught smuggling teabags into camp during the previous series.
Timeless Existence: The Ban on Clocks
One of the most disorienting rules for the stars is the complete absence of timekeeping devices. The camp contains no clocks, and contestants are strictly forbidden from wearing watches. They often try to gauge the time from Ant and Dec's visits, but even this tactic is thwarted. The presenters deliberately cover their own watch faces with plasters to prevent any clues from leaking. A show spokesperson confirmed this on social media, stating the measure is to ensure the celebrities "have no idea" what time it is. Myleene Klass proved to be a rare exception in 2006 when she ingeniously constructed a sundial to track the hours.
The Underwear Allowance: A Three-Pair Limit
While contestants are issued standard I'm A Celebrity attire, their personal items are severely restricted, particularly when it comes to underwear. The rule was exposed by EastEnders actress Rita Simons following her 2018 stint. She revealed on Good Morning Britain that campers are officially allowed only three pairs of knickers. Simons confessed to breaking this rule, admitting, "I smuggled more."
More Than Fashion: The Secret of the Red Socks
The celebrities' signature red socks are not merely a fashion choice. According to Bob McCarron, a former medic for the programme, the colour was strategically selected for a practical and somewhat gruesome reason. He revealed that red socks help to conceal bloodstains from insect bites on the celebrities' ankles, a common jungle nuisance.
As Kelly Brook, Martin Kemp, and their fellow campmates enter the jungle for the new series starting at 9pm on ITV, these strict and unusual rules will define their daily existence, testing their adaptability alongside the more publicised trials.
