I’m A Celebrity South Africa kicked off the year with ITV’s biggest weekday audience with a peak of 4.9 million viewers and an average of 4.3 million viewers.
It is also the highest TV rating for any channel this year in the Monday 9pm slot. It’s also more than double last year’s total, with an increase of more than 2 million viewers
The show also attracted a 55% share of 16-34 year olds, which is ITV1’s biggest weekday audience aged 16-34.
The news comes even as I’m A Celebrity fans all had the same complaint about the South African spin-off hit, which ITV viewers dubbed screens ‘fake’.
The program was recorded in South Africa’s Kruger National Park last year and the first episode was broadcast on Monday.
It’s back! The launch of I’m A Celeb South Africa broke ITV records on Monday with 4.9 million viewers, although fans complained they didn’t want to watch after discovering a new series had been pre-recorded.
There’s more to come: the show also attracted 55% of 16-34 year olds, which is ITV1’s biggest weekday audience aged 16-34 – (Picture, Helen Flanagan)
Fans saw Helen Flanagan, Fatima Whitbread and Phil Tufnell take on the giant red ball challenge.
There were also key moments when Shaun Ryder tied the knot with Paul Burrell, who couldn’t help but mention his royal connections.
And at the end of the show, Gillian McKeith arrived at the camp in a giant wooden crate.
For the first time in 21 years, with an all-star cast, the show ends not with a jungle king or queen, but with a “legend.”
The lack of public votes means the stars, including Carol Vorderman, Helen Flanagan and Amir Khan, will be competing against each other and therefore not on their way to royal status – instead they will simply be competing with each other.
A statement from ITV read: “Without a public vote they will go head to head in a battle to become the first ‘I’m A Celebrity Legend’.
Viewers took to Twitter to express their frustration with the new format, with one commenting: “When it’s all pre-recorded! Not live. Don’t watch.”
Another said: “I’m looking forward to the I’m A Celeb All Stars show but it’s a shame it’s not live and we can’t vote as it’s pre-recorded.”
A third wrote: “I don’t like how everything is pre-recorded! If Love Island can do it, anyone can!’
One user added: “I really don’t see the point. I’m a celebrity in South Africa if everyone didn’t vote – just a Swiss I’m sure who wins if you search online too I think .
Someone wrote: “Doesn’t quite feel like it was taken last September”
‘Not live, not watching’: ‘I’m A Celebrity’ fans all had the same complaint as the South African spin-off hit ITV screens, calling it ‘wrong’
Viewers took to Twitter to express their frustration with the new format, with one commenting: “When it’s all pre-recorded! Not live. Don’t watch.”
In addition to the winners, it has also been reported that two latecomers will be joining the cast – in the form of winners Georgia Toffolo and Joe Swash.
A source told The Mirror: “A show source said: ‘There will still be a winner on the show but they won’t be crowned in the same way…
“There’s no public vote and they’ve all taken part before, so the bosses decided they couldn’t really be crowned king or queen. Instead, a famous legend status is given.”
And the celebs, who are used to lavish lifestyles, may be quite shocked when they first look around the camp during the Ant and Dec presentation.
Their very basic camp has nothing more than a few wooden benches around a fire, some uncomfortable looking camp beds and hammocks, and an outdoor shower.
Other features of the set-up – which is six times larger than the one in Australia – include a task board with activities such as cooking and gathering wood to be pointed out.
At this camp, the washing water does not fall over a natural cliff, but from a shower head that hangs from a tree.
The entrance to the camp also has a grass path leading to a covered tree arch that enters the camp.
Beds are raised off the ground on wooden stilts to protect the stars from sharp, creepy critters, but do not provide a soft mattress.
A source told The Sun of the new camp: “Everything is bigger, scarier and bolder. If the celebrities think they know what to expect, they are wrong.
“All they can rely on is rice and beans!”
The publication reports that the celebrities will be in seclusion surrounded by wildlife about five miles from the nearest road and a 40-minute drive from a village.
Last week it was I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! The All Stars start date has been confirmed.
It starts on Monday 24 April and will be broadcast weekdays for three weeks, with the final week clashing with the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May.
On April 24, Shaun Ryder, Helen Flanagan, Phil Tufnell, Jordan Banjo, Carol Vorderman, Paul Burrell, Amir Khan, Janice Dickinson and Fatima Whitbread return to the jungle in Celebs: The All Stars
The ITV press center tweeted: “Confirmed: I’m a celebrity… South Africa starts Monday 24 April at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.”
A host of stars from the series have been revealed so far, including boxer Amir Khan, 36, former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan, 32, and TV presenter Carol Vorderman, 62.
They are joined by the late Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell, 64, diversity dancer Jordan Banjo, 30, Happy Mondays star Shaun Ryder, 60, retired javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread, 62, and former England cricketer Phil Tufnell, 56.
The Sun reports that Gillian McKeith (63), Dean Gaffney (45), Joe Swash (41), Andy Whyment (42), Myleene Klass (45) and Georgia Toffolo (28) will arrive at the camp later in the series.
Viewers can tune into the second episode on Tuesday night at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Source: Daily Mail
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
