ITV executives have pulled the plug on the Australian jungle and confirmed that the 2025 series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! will be filmed right here in the UK.
The decision comes after the massive success of the show's UK-based series, which were filmed at Gwrych Castle in Wales during the pandemic. Bosses have decided that the British backdrop provides a unique and popular twist on the classic format.
End of an Era for the Australian Jungle
This move marks a significant shift for the long-running reality show, which has been synonymous with the Australian jungle since its launch in 2002. The iconic setting provided celebrities with creepy crawlies and extreme challenges for over two decades.
However, the pandemic-forced relocation to Wales in 2020 proved to be a ratings winner, capturing the nation's attention and offering a fresh, albeit chillier, take on the survival format.
Why the UK is the New Home for Celebrities
An ITV insider revealed that the UK setting offers a compelling alternative. "The UK version was a huge hit with viewers. It had a different feel but still captured the spirit of the show. Bosses believe a permanent move back to the UK, likely to a castle setting again, is the best way forward," the source stated.
The change is expected to bring a new dynamic to the challenges and trials faced by the celebrities, trading the heat of the Outback for the potential cold and damp of a British winter.
While the exact location for the 2025 series is yet to be officially confirmed, speculation is already mounting that Gwrych Castle remains the frontrunner to host the star-studded camp.
Viewers can expect the beloved presenting duo, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, to return to helm the new UK-based series, guiding a fresh batch of celebrities through their bush-tucker trials and tribulations.
