ITV's hit reality show I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! is resurrecting one of its most beloved features after a six-year absence, bringing back the high-octane live trials that have created some of the programme's most memorable moments.
The Return of Live Challenges
The last Australia-based live trial occurred in 2019, featuring celebrities including Caitlyn Jenner, Ian Wright and Roman Kemp. Now, after half a decade, the format returns with a particularly brutal challenge called 'Cocktails of Cruelty'.
This head-to-head drinking contest requires each celebrity to select two supposedly "delicious" jungle ingredients for their opponent to consume. Following instructions from hosts Ant and Dec, the campmates must then down their drinks as quickly as possible, with victory going to whoever empties their glass first and returns it to the table.
Iconic Live Trial Moments
The return of live trials evokes memories of some of the show's most dramatic moments, particularly Gillian McKeith's infamous fainting incident in 2010. Speaking to Jungle Confidential in 2022, the 66-year-old explained she had a history of fainting since childhood and hadn't felt well on the day of the trial.
"I have a history of fainting since I was five years old so when the circumstances are such that I haven't eaten for like two, three days... I wasn't feeling well in that live trial and all the boxes were ticked for disaster," McKeith revealed.
Another memorable moment came in 2006 when EastEnders legend Dean Gaffney faced The Temple Of Doom trial moments after arriving in the jungle as a late entry, ultimately winning nine stars for his campmates.
Jungle Weather Chaos
The live trial isn't the only challenge facing this year's contestants. The camp was recently thrown into chaos when production staff evacuated celebrities during a horrendous thunderstorm.
Filming for the show was delayed by three hours as contestants, including social media star Angry Ginge, rapper Aitch, former EastEnders star Shona McGarty, Coronation Street actress Lisa Riley, and glamour model Kelly Brook, sheltered in the Bush Telegraph confessional hut.
A show source told the Daily Mail: "Our health and safety weather contingencies kicked in and we evacuated the celebrities immediately to the Bush Telegraph until the storm passed and it was safe to return to camp."
The rain struck at 2pm Australian time (4am UK time) and lasted approximately an hour, forcing celebrities to spend the rest of the day drying their bedding and towels by the campfire.
Even host Ant McPartlin nearly took a tumble during Saturday night's show when he slipped while presenting under an umbrella alongside Declan Donnelly.
This year's relatively dry conditions contrast sharply with last year, which was the wettest in the show's 24-year history. Continuous rainfall last season flooded the jungle camp, threatened contestant safety, and saw trees fall blocking access roads.
A show insider explained: "The jungle camp cannot cope with this level of rain and the thing is, when it rains like this, it's not fun for anyone involved. In fact, it's miserable. It dampens the mood and ultimately ruins the show."
While a retractable canopy 50 feet above camp provides some protection, drips still fall on sleeping celebrities, and the psychological toll of continuous rain contributed to early departures last year from food critic Grace Dent and Jamie-Lynn Spears.
The return of live trials combined with unpredictable jungle weather ensures that this year's I'm A Celebrity contestants face their toughest challenges yet as they battle for survival in the Australian outback.
