The popular I'm a Celebrity Jungle Attraction at Salford Quays has suspended the use of "king or queen of the jungle" titles for contestants as a "mark of respect" to The Queen. The live action experience, based on the hit ITV I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here show, sees entrants compete across a number of challenges in a bid to become crowned "king or queen of the jungle".
But after the death of the monarch last week, and the resulting period of national mourning, bosses at the Jungle Challenge have temporarily removed any references to Kings, Queens or wider royalty within the attraction.
The site will also close to the public on the Bank Holiday Monday, September 19, when The Queen's funeral will take place in London.
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People who take part in the Jungle Challenge compete in a series of fun games, trials and challenges in a bid to bank stars, just like on the hit celebrity challenge ITV show hosted by Ant and Dec. The winner claiming the most stars usually gets the glory of being crowned king or queen of the Jungle in a winner's ceremony at the end of the attraction.
The "king" or "queen" is given a crown of flowers to wear in a wooden throne, where friends can take photos as well as digital photos provided as part of the experience. The winner also gets to do a walk along the "winner's bridge" just like celebrities on the hit ITV show get to do.
But the MEN understands that staff have been briefed not to use the titles of King or Queen of the Jungle until further notice - instead using the term "Champion of the Jungle" to bestow on winners at the end of the trials. They say it's as a "mark of respect" to temporarily remove any reference to Kings, Queens or wider royalty connections within the attraction "for the moment".
Visitors compete in challenges like scaling an 8m vertical rock in The Ascent, glide above the trees in Spyrider or scramble through nets and balance on beams through the Jungle Run. The venue is based inside the Quayside mall at MediaCityUK, the former Lowry Outlet Mall and first opened to paying guests in July 2021.
It's not yet known when the regal jungle titles will be returned to the challenge. On an official post on the Jungle Challenge website a statement reads: "I’m A Celebrity…Jungle Challenge joins with millions around the world in mourning the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
"Continuum Attractions have been honoured to have welcomed Her Majesty to several of our attractions, throughout her 70-year-long reign. Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, as a mark of respect, our site will be closed on Monday 19th September, the day of the state funeral."
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