ITV bosses have reportedly scuppered a carefully crafted 'game plan' by I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! contestant Angry Ginge, designed to secure him maximum screen time. The revelation comes from former campmate Nicola McLean, who exposed the strategy after the star's own livestreams.
The Scuppered Strategy
According to McLean, who appeared on the reality show in 2008, Angry Ginge – whose real name is Morgan – had a clear plan of action before entering the Australian jungle. He actively encouraged his followers to vote for him for every Bushtucker Trial, believing this would guarantee him the most airtime possible on the popular ITV programme.
However, this tactic, which might have proved successful in previous series, was rendered ineffective due to a crucial rule change implemented by producers for the current season. Celebrities are now only permitted to undertake two trials consecutively. This new regulation ensures a fairer distribution of airtime among all campmates and prevents viewers from repeatedly voting for the same person.
Revelations from a Former Star
In an interview with The Sun, the 44-year-old McLean explained the situation. "I think that they've stopped allowing the same person to be voted, haven't they?" she stated. "My 15-year-old told me he believes it's because Ginge was saying on his livestream 'vote for me for everything'."
She elaborated on the logic behind the plan, noting, "So we think Ginge would have just been voted for absolutely everything, which would be great for him because that is your main airtime." This insider knowledge suggests a direct link between the contestant's public campaigning and the producers' decision to alter the voting system's impact.
Spider Showdown and Campmate Tensions
Despite the rule change, Angry Ginge was still set to face his second Bushtucker Trial, scheduled for broadcast on Wednesday night's episode. The daunting task required him to collect two Huntsman spiders using only his bare hands and place them into a box. The challenge was made even more terrifying as the spiders were hidden inside a dark tent, forcing him to put his head inside to locate them.
As he braced himself for the trial, his fellow campmates, including late arrivals Vogue Williams and Tom Read Wilson from Celebs Go Dating, offered words of encouragement. Tom advised, "Breathe through it Ginge," while Vogue suggested, "Close your eyes and grab it!"
His response to their advice was less than grateful. Questioning Vogue's expertise, he retorted, "Have you ever caught a spider before?" to which she honestly replied, "no." His irritation grew when Tom recommended he think of the spiders as friends, prompting Angry Ginge to shoot the pair a stern look that did not go unnoticed by campmate Declan, who observed, "If looks could kill!"
A show insider confirmed to the publication that the rule change was a deliberate move, reflecting the audience's desire to see a variety of celebrities face challenges rather than the same individual repeatedly.
In a separate jungle development, despite the strict confiscation of phones, Angry Ginge was granted special permission by production to call home for his birthday. His mother, Michelle, told the Mirror, "Morgan managed to ring me via the producer's phone because he was allowed a quick phone call for his birthday, and he sounded absolutely buzzing. He told me he's been watching SAS to get himself mentally ready for the jungle, which is so him."
