Gemma Collins, Mo Farah and Scarlett Moffatt are among the famous faces entering the jungle for the second ever series of I’m a Celebrity... South Africa.
The all-star version of the format brings together some of the most memorable campmates from series gone by, as they return to test themselves in gruesome trials in the South African wilderness.
Ant and Dec are back to host the pre-recorded spin-off series, which is returning to ITV for the first time since 2023.
This year, Gogglebox star Moffatt and Olympian Farah are hoping to follow in her footsteps, along with Waterloo Road’s Adam Thomas, Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, boxer David Haye, comedian Seann Walsh, Coronation Street’s Beverley Callard and singer Sinitta.
Four celebrities joining the camp as late entries will be Towie’s Gemma Collins, actor and DJ Craig Charles, and former footballers Jimmy Bullard and Harry Redknapp.
Collins is one of the most memorable I’m a Celebrity campmates, having spent just 72 hours in the jungle before leaving in 2014. During her short time on the show, the ex Towie star refused to jump out of a helicopter into the Australian camp, constantly complained about the lack of food (“even a murderer gets fed three times a day”) and uttered her now-iconic phrase: “I just wanna be me.”
She’ll be reuniting with ex Coronation Street actor Charles, with the pair having struck up a friendship during their stint on the 2014 series. The DJ left the show after four days after the death of his brother Dean.
Bullard appeared on the same series, however his time was marred by controversy after the ex footballer clashed with The X Factor’s Jake Quickenden and he became the first contestant to be voted out of the jungle.
Moffatt left the Gogglebox sofa behind when she was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2016, winning over the nation with her love of chicken kebabs, while Olympic champion Farah and Coronation Street’s Callard took part in the show’s first series not to be filmed in Australia, camping out at Wales’ Gwrych Castle due to Covid travel restrictions.
Viewers will remember Farah flexing his acting muscles in camp by recreating a scene from EastEnders with Shane Richie and eventually coming in eighth place. While Callard – who was fourth to leave – left the camp in stitches after calling ITV show Splash “the most stupid programme ever” before realising that fellow campmate Vernon Kay had presented it.
Walsh returned to TV with IAC in 2022 after making headlines on Strictly Come Dancing; the comedian was pictured kissing his professional dance partner Katya Jones on his then-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries’s birthday. While he opened up about the infidelity in camp, he was far from the most controversial contestant on the series – with ex Health Secretary Matt Hancock arriving in camp shortly after resigning over his own cheating scandal.
The first South Africa series saw season six runner-up Myleene Klass crowned winner after airing in September and October 2022.
The debut series was filmed in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, months before it aired on ITV1. The returning celebrities’ fate in camp depended on how well they performed in each Bushtucker Trial – with just Olympic javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread, Diversity’s Jordan Banjo and eventual winner Klass making it to the final.
Ahead of series two, ITV revealed a new twist to the format – giving the public the power to crown this year’s winner. While most of the series will be prerecorded, the final will take place live in London, with fans getting to vote.
Ant McPartlin said in a press release in September: “The campmates really brought their A-game to the first series, so we can’t wait to be back for more trials, challenges and surprises amongst the beautiful South African landscape.” While co-host Declan Donnelly added: “Having a live final is an exciting addition to the new series with the viewers choosing their IAC Legend and we’ve heard some of the new trials are truly epic, even by I’m a Celeb… standards!”
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