Two campmates will leave I’m A Celebrity South Africa tonight, just hours after the camp was rocked by a row over contraband.
The shock decision to get rid of a pair of famous faces in the opening week is unprecedented. Evictions normally start at the end of the second week of the series when it is held in Australia.
And the decision to reduce the numbers in the camp came before actor Andy Whyment, who plays Kirk in Coronation Street, had even spent a full day in the main area.
Host Ant McPartlin says: “Big news because it’s time for the very first survival trial. The losing pair will be leaving camp forever.”
And Dec says: “The stakes couldn’t be higher on this one. Because the losing pair will head home for good.”
Several of the contestants screamed out when they heard the news. A show insider said: “This was a huge shock as they all knew the normal format and were just getting settled. Someone could leave having barely been there.”
Shortly before the eviction, the camp harmony was broken by arguments around the decision by three members of camp to bring in contraband.
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Gillian McKeith, Paul Burrell and Myleene Klass snuck in items to enhance their stay and had to hand them to bosses, shocking stars including Helen Flanagan and Georgia Toffolo.
Paul took in coffee, Gillian had almonds, salt and mints in her bra, and Myleene had a hair scrunchy with a secret pocket for salt.
After handing them in, Olympian Fatima Whitbread let them know she was unhappy with them breaking the rules but Paul looked unhappy and said he felt “shamed”. Fatima, 62, was having none of it and added: “You have brought shame to you.
“I don’t agree with letting people off the hook. Rules are the rules. It’s the principle.
“They’ve been broken and it shouldn’t go unpunished. Whether we like it or not, we’re all in it together. It shouldn’t go unpunished.
“It’s not about the individuals. It’s about the rules being broken, because I’m a principled person. I want to be true to myself.
“Everybody knows the rules. If you break them, you pay the consequences.”
The other celebrities then spent time speaking to Paul as he seemed upset. Carol Vorderman said to him: “Don’t be devastated. We’re howling and laughing. It’s funny.
“Don’t ever lose the mischief. That’s when life stops.”
Although the evictions have now started, more late entries are still expected with two weeks of the series left. Former EastEnders stars Joe Swash and Dean Gaffney are also rumoured to be heading into the show next week.
