Nine contestants who have done it all before squeal at snakes, swing on big balls and drop constant innuendos – but without public interference, the hit show has no meat on its bones
I’m a Celebrity … South Africa is not a regular series of I’m a Celebrity. There are only nine contestants, at least to begin with. There is no public vote. It isn’t in Australia, or even Wales, and everyone taking part has been on the show before. All these factors remove a surprising amount of meat from its bones, leaving a skeletal version of the show behind. This is a sort of supercharged sports day, with camping, hunger, and personalities who have done it all before, who know how it works and what they are expected to do. Carol Vorderman is up for it, Helen Flanagan is not, Paul Burrell still screams when he has to put his arm into mysterious holes.
I’m a Celebrity is so popular that Phil Tufnell, who won the second series in 2003, has to note that it is 19 years since his victory (this was filmed last year). It has endured for more than two decades, when other reality shows of the same size and draw have fallen. Its viewing figures are firmly and reliably big and its hosts are Ant and Dec, who could present a documentary about how to fill in your tax return and still command bumper ratings and armfuls of awards.
