Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Rachel McGrath

Celebrity Traitors has exposed the fatal flaw of I’m a Celeb

Kiosk Kev is on standby, the hammocks have been dusted off and the sheep’s brains are already in the blender. That’s right, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is returning to screens once again – only this year it’s arriving off the back of another show that has set the bar much higher. Unfortunately for ITV, the debut episode of I’m a Celeb is airing less than a fortnight after the conclusion of the BBC’s newer, fresher juggernaut,The Celebrity Traitors.

Across nine episodes, the Beeb’s new kid on the block became the most-watched entertainment show of the year. And it wasn’t only a ratings winner. The viral clips (Tom Daley’s side-eye), memeable one-liners, and shocking outcome cemented the show’s position on any and all “best of 2025” lists. Both the civilian and celebrity versions of The Traitors have proven that even in the days of streaming, there’s still a hunger for good, old-fashioned event television. But only if the show concerned is actually worthy of chatter – which, when it comes to I’m a Celeb, is increasingly not the case.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.