I'm A Celebrity South Africa Takes Weekend Break, Returns Monday
Fans of ITV's I'm A Celebrity... South Africa will need to wait until Monday April 20 for their next jungle fix, as the show is not airing this weekend. Instead, tonight's episode has been replaced by the popular quiz show The 1% Club, while tomorrow evening's slot will feature the crime drama Grace, starring the acclaimed actor John Simm.
Normal Schedule Resumes Next Week with Split Final
From Monday April 20 and throughout the week, viewers can expect the show to return to its regular broadcasting slot. The live final is scheduled for Friday April 24, but it will be shown in two distinct parts. The first instalment will air from 7.30pm until 9pm, with the second segment following at 10pm until 10.30pm. In between these final segments, Graham Norton's show will be broadcast.
Viewer Reactions to Programming Decisions
This is not the first time ITV's scheduling choices have sparked discussion among fans. Earlier this month, viewers expressed mixed feelings on social media regarding the decision to split the final. One person commented, "Seems kinda pointless imo, why not start I'm A Celebrity at half 8 and put Graham on before or end I’m a Celebrity 9.30." Another added, "They might want to rethink that… I'm A Celeb won’t add any viewers with its current figures."
However, not all feedback was negative. A third viewer noted, "Seems odd nowadays, but a part of me misses when some live shows used to be split into two parts with another programme airing in the middle. Never see it now with the likes of BGT and Big Brother. Made it feel more like an event."
Recent Developments and Camp Tensions
The All Stars spin-off, which premiered on April 6, has welcomed back a host of previous contestants including Gemma Collins, David Haye, Scarlett Moffatt, and eighties pop star Sinitta. The show has already seen its share of drama, with Seann Walsh becoming the first celebrity to be eliminated. In a recent interview with The Sun, Walsh described his experience as an "absolute hellhole" and criticised his campmates, stating, "Honestly, I think the three most useless people to be left together in Savannah Scrub were Adam, myself, and Bev."
In the latest episode, a teaser revealed the arrival of new campmates Harry Redknapp, a previous winner of the Australian version, and former contestant Jimmy Bullard. Hosts Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly announced their entry, prompting former Emmerdale star Adam Thomas to exclaim, "Oh my God! What is going on?" before the episode concluded.
As the show approaches its finale, fans can anticipate more twists and turns in the South African jungle, with the weekend hiatus serving as a brief pause before the climactic week of broadcasts.
