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Victoria Johns & Catherine Addison-Swan

I'm A Celebrity South Africa odds see favourite emerge for first jungle 'legend'

The new series of I'm A Celebrity South Africa hasn't even started yet - but the winner is already in the bag, according to the latest odds from the bookies.

The ITV all-star series is set to kick off tonight, Monday April 24, and will see several former celeb campmates return to the jungle to compete for the ultimate crown - but they're not in for an easy ride, in what has been dubbed the "toughest series yet". Boxing champion Amir Khan is back for round two in the jungle, accompanied by Olympian Fatima Whitbread, Happy Mondays legend Shaun Ryder, Coronation Street's Helen Flanagan, and presenter Carol Vorderman.

Diversity dancer Jordan Banjo, supermodel Janice Dickinson, and former royal butler Paul Burrell have also landed in South Africa, along with former cricketer Phil Tufnell to complete the line-up - with some late arrivals having been teased by hosts Ant and Dec too. But according to Ladbrokes, fates may already be sealed when it comes to who will get to wear the jungle crown, with Phil Tufnell currently the hot favourite for the win, The Mirror reports.

READ MORE: Scarlett Moffatt's I'm A Celebrity return confirmed as former winner lands role in new series

Phil, 56, won the show in Australia back in 2003, and could be celebrating victory once again two decades later as the odds have him at 4/1 to be King of the Jungle - or the first ever I'm A Celebrity Legend - in South Africa too. However, with speculation rife about who might be joining camp later on in the series, everything could change when the challenges get underway.

Jessica O'Reilly of Ladbrokes said: "Tuffers was a firm fan favourite back in the day which easily makes him the clear front runner for glory in South Africa. However, with the likes of Joe Swash and Georgia Toffolo rumoured to be joining the camp his position at the top of the I'm A Celebrity betting may not last for too long."

Next in line for legend status is Happy Monday's star, Shaun Ryder, with odds of 8/1. Also in the running to be crowed champion are Carol Vorderman at 10/1, Jordan Banjo at 16/1, and Amir Khan at 20/1, while former royal butler Paul Burrell is at the back of the pack with odds of just 50/1.

A sneak peek at the series ahead of Monday's first episode showed Ant and Dec introducing the celebs to a series of hair-raising challenges, including crossing giant red balls suspended in the air, walk the plank over a huge cliff, and stick their hands in holes filled with creepy-crawlies to grab stars for a meal in camp. "Of course, you've got to give it your best - whether my best is what is was like 19 years ago, I'm not quite sure," Phil joked.

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