After three years away, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here finally returned to Australia as the 2022 series kicked off on Sunday night. Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly appeared thrilled to be back Down Under as they welcomed 10 new campmates to the Gold Coast before sending them off into the jungle.
And the famous faces didn't have too much time to relax as they were put straight to the test as they faced nerve-wracking heights and creepy critters. Among those making their debut on the ITV reality show was Boy George and Love Island star Olivia Attwood, who were revealed as the public’s choice to become Jungle VIPs, but this was not as luxurious as it first appeared as they later discovered this meant "Very Isolated People".
Olivia was allowed to choose one person to join her for one last hearty meal and she picked Chris Moyles. Meanwhile, the three remaining campmates of Jill Scott, Charlene White and Babatunde Aleshe were whisked off by a helicopter to the Focus building in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, to take on the show’s new version of the infamous plank.
They had to walk to the edge of the plank 334ft in the air and once all were in position, they had to take a step forward onto a ledge so they are leaning forward and they must use a rope to stop them from falling. They would then have to hold the position for a minute and then release their supporting rope which will send them plunging from the ledge in order to each win a coveted star, each one equating to one meal.
Loose Women star Charlene was up first and steadily walked to the end of the plank and waited for Babtunde to join her who was urging himself on to "just go". However, he became the first to say 'I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here' and backed out. And while it happened in a couple of minutes on-screen, it is reported he deliberated for 45 minutes.
Boy George was the second Jungle VIP voted in and he chose presenter Scarlette Douglas to join him for a meal for two on a yacht. The remaining campmates – Mike Tindall, Sue Cleaver and Owen Warner – were helicoptered into the jungle and put to the test on the “Critter Cruise” where they had to each try and secure a star from a boat’s mast by completing a challenge.
But while fans of the show were happy to see it back on-screens, and back in its exotic spiritual home, some viewers were quick to flock to social media with the same complaint, saying the amount of ad breaks 'spoiled' the 105-minute series opener.
@EmmaLouise394 tweeted: "Why is there so many adverts?! It’s unbearable to watch! #ImACeleb #ITV." @RuleTheW0rld_ wrote: "Love #ImACeleb but god I haven't missed the bloody adverts every 2 minutes." @makeupwitu posted: "The amount of adverts is ridiculous ! #ImACeleb." @CySaunders24 added: "I've just realised something about ITV If you watch the Adverts for long enough, occasionally they put ‘I’m a Celebrity’ on. #ImACeleb."
However, some were actually praising ITV as it appears the regularity of the adverts didn't pick up until later in the episode. @abbiebracks said: "Is itv feeling okay no adverts yet after 27 minutes #ImACeleb." @melvinjtk noted: "No adverts break and we are 30 mins in?! #imaceleb." @TVChatty added: "Always find the first episode of #ImACeleb disorientating as ITV ditch the adverts for like the first half an hour. But they’ll make up for it soon and have like 3 in the same space of time."
Meanwhile, minutes into the launch episode, I'm A Celeb viewers were issuing a complaint. @XherdanJackiri tweeted: "Celebrity is an incredibly generous term for half of those in the jungle #ImACeleb." @kazzwoody wrote: "#ImACeleb sorry but I’ve not a clue. I’m getting nervous for Chris Moyles having to pretend he knows who these people are!" @AuditionPianist added: "It's embarrassing when the 'celebrities' have to explain to the other 'celebrities' who they are. "And you might know me from...", no we don't. #ImACeleb."
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