Ant and Dec sparked huge relief amongst I’m A Celebrity viewers on Saturday night, within just seconds of the show starting, as it became clear that the episode was live, rather than just a highlights roundup of what's happened so far.
The Geordie hosts have taken the reins during a very eventful first week for the hit ITV show’s new series, which has included everything from Olivia Attwood’s shock exit to Matt Hancock ’s late arrival. The former Health Secretary was at the centre of the action once again on Friday night, when, after successfully taking in an eating trial with Boy George, he was grilled by his campmates on his high profile Downing Street wrongdoing and handling of the Covid pandemic.
It was no surprise, that end at the of Friday’s show, Ant and Dec had been voted by the public to do another Bushtucker Trial, this time being joined by Owen Warner. The presenters also had a big trial surprise for the other camp mates, revealing they could watch Hancock and Owen in action.
READ MORE: Boy George 'stopped in tracks' during I'm A Celebrity eating trial
And, rather than having to wait until Sunday night to see it unfold and having to make do with a weekly highlights episode on Saturday, it became apparent that it was very much business as usual at the start of the show.
When I’m A Celebrity made the switch to Wales in 2020, ITV and Ant and Dec faced an angry backlash from viewers who were very vocal in their disapproval of every Saturday episode being a roundup of the weeks action.
Thankfully, bosses listened to the comments and changed things back last year, with them now sticking to the status quo in Australia, with Ant and Dec arriving on screen teasing that the Who Wants To Look Silly On Air trial was coming up.
Ahead of Saturday’s programme, viewers took to Twitter speculating that it would be a best of the week show on Saturday. One tweeted: Do we normally get live @imacelebrity episodes on a Saturday night? I thought it is normally Unseen Bits from the week? Or are they trying to hurry through the series before The World Cup starts?“
And referencing the furore from 2020, another posted: They took a lot of flack the year they did highlights on Saturday. A&D even acknowledged it on air. IIRC they brought back Saturday episodes last year. A third tweeted the show to commment: "Correct me if I’m wrong but is this the first LIVE I’m a celeb on a SATURDAY in Australia as when they where last there they had those highlights shows."
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