All-star 'i'm a celebrity' returns—but with a twist
Forget predictable jungle eliminations; ITV's 'I'm a Celebrity…South Africa' is back for a second series, and it's shaking up the format. While the promise of familiar faces—from Gemma Collins to Sir Mo Farah—is enticing, the biggest surprise lies in the live final, a first for the revived spin-off.
The pre-recorded puzzle: why no live voting?
Unlike the traditional Australian edition, which unfolds live with viewers participating in eliminations, this South African iteration, filmed last September, was pre-recorded. This means the usual real-time voting and evictions have been absent throughout the episodes—a characteristic shared with the initial 2023 series. The show's producers initially opted for this approach to streamline production and allow for greater editorial control, but it left many viewers feeling disconnected from the unfolding drama.
A live final: the jungle's crown is up for grabs
But the producers have listened. The grand finale, airing April 24th at 9pm, will be broadcast live from the UK. The entire cast will reconvene in a London studio for a vote that will, for the first time, determine the 'I'm a Celebrity Legend.' As Ant and Dec explained to former King of the Jungle, Sam Thompson, “We’re going to get all the cast back, and we’ll have the finalists in the studio.” The public, finally, gets to weigh in and crown a champion.
Blyde river canyon: the new jungle landscape
The contestants' trials this season will take place near the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga, South Africa—a stunning backdrop of thick tropical forest perfect for the chaotic Bushtucker Trials. The scenery alone promises a visual feast, but the real test will be how these seasoned celebrities cope with the challenges ahead. The location, shrouded in dense vegetation, will undoubtedly amplify the intensity of the trials.
The second series of I'm a Celebrity.South Africa begins on ITV on Monday, April 2nd, at 9pm. Whether the live final will reinvigorate the series and reconnect it with viewers remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the jungle's dynamics are about to get a whole lot more interesting.