I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Host

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly

ITV2 output: Louise Loughman, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Mark Durden-Smith, Matt Willis, Emma Griffiths

Exclusive (ITV1 spin-off, 2006): Phillip Schofield and Sheree Murphy

Broadcast

Granada London (LWT) for ITV1/2/Play, 25 August 2002 to present

Synopsis

Slow burning reality show which has ended up being a massive hit.

Originally eight, these days ten, celebrities are dropped off in some Australian bush where they must survive for two weeks. During the first week, viewers vote as to who should do the Bushtucker Trials. During the second week, they vote to keep their favourite in. The last one left is declared King/Queen of the Jungle and appropriately takes the lion's share of the money raised from phone votes for their charity.

Life in the bush isn't terribly comfortable, the worst thing is the lack of food. Luckily for the contestants, food can be earnt. Unluckily for the contestants, this involves taking part in humilating, scary and just plain nasty tasks. During the first week, the celebrity that has the responsibilty is decided by the public. During the second week, it's either decided on a group vote or in later series' by the last person to be eliminated. Examples of Bushtucker Trials include:

Sticking your head in a perspex fishbowl which gets creepy crawlies poured in. And an eel, for some reason.
Transferring things from one side of a box to another whilst having 10,000 cockroaches crawl over you.
Lying in an underground pit for as long as possible which fills up with water and rats.
Grabbing stars in a swamp full of snakes and/or crocodiles.
The inevitable 'eat unappatizing things' challenge.

Actually the most fun one didn't involve any nasty creatures at all. Entitled 'Hell Hill', the four remaining contestants had to run up a muddy hill to four different positions. Whoever was in position when the time ran out would win a meal. However, as the game progressed, more watery surprises were added ending with a final tumultuous vat when the final person reached the top, making everyone slide down meaning a last gasp run to get back to where there were again. Very Takeshi's Castle.

Every day two celebrities are sent out to find the Celebrity Chest. In it is a question. If they get it right, they win something useful to help their stay. If incorrect, they win something quite useless, usually an item one of the celebs had put their name to.

Crucially Ant and Dec, our hosts, understand the ridiculousness of the show and play this up at every opportunity. They provide the amusing links between the clips, referee the Bushtucker Trials and go into the camp to announce who has lost the vote at the end of each episode.

At its peak 13 million people were watching every night, and the C-List celebrities involved often get a lot of work afterwards.

Trivia

The contestants were:

Series 1: Tony Blackburn (DJ - winner), Uri Geller (mystic), Christine Hamilton (self-proclaimed battleaxe), Tara Palmer-Tomkinson (socialite and TV presenter), Darren Day (actor), Nell McAndrew (model), Nigel Benn (boxer turned DJ), Rhona Cameron (comedian).
Series 2: Phil Tufnell (cricketer - winner), John Fashanu (ex-footballer), Linda Barker (irritant), Anthony Worral Thompson (chef), Wayne Sleep (dancer), Catalina Guirado (model), Danniella Westbrook (actress), Sian Lloyd (ITV weathergirl), Chris Bisson (actor), Toyah Willcox (singer and TV presenter).
Series 3: Kerry McFadden (TV presenter - winner), John Lydon (punk), Jennie Bond (ex-journalist), Alex Best (estranged wife of George), Jordan (model), Neil Ruddock (ex-footballer), Lord Brocket (lord and convict), Peter Andre (singer), Mike Read (DJ and writer), Diane Modahl (former athlete).
Series 4: Joe Pasquale (comedian - winner), Brian Harvey (singer), Antonio Fargas (actor), Nancy Sorrell (model), Sheila Fergusson (singer), Sophie Anderton (model), Janet Street-Porter (TV presenter/producer), Fran Cosgrave (who knows?), Paul Burrell (ex-butler), Natalie Appleton (singer), Vic Reeves (comedian).
Series 5: Carol Thatcher (daughter of Maggie - winner), Antony Costa (ex-Blue member), Kimberley Davies (sometime Neighbours starlet), David Dickinson (Mr Cheap as Chips), Jenny Frost (pop starlet), Jilly Goolden (wine expert), Elaine Lourdan ('Stenders actress), Sheree Murphy (Emmerdale), Jimmy Osmond (Osmond brother), Sid Owen (ex-EastEnder), Tommy Cannon (comedy partner of Bobby Ball), Bobby Ball (comedy partner of Tommy Cannon).
Series 6: Matt Willis (ex-Busted member - winner), Toby Anstis (ex-CBBC), Lauren Booth (sister-in-law of Tony Blair), Faith Brown (impressionist), Malandra Burrows (Emmerdale), Jason Donovan (Neighbours), Dean Gaffney (Eastenders), David Gest (one of the Mr. Liza Minnellis), Scott Henshall (fashion designer), Myleene Klass (ex-Hear'Say member), Jan Leeming (newsreader), Phina Oruche (Footballer's Wives)
Series 7: Christopher Biggins (actor - winner), Gemma Atkinson (ex-Hollyoaks actress), Marc Bannerman (ex-EastEnders actor), Jason "J" Brown (ex-Five member), John Burton Race (Michelin-starred chef), Janice Dickinson (supermodel), Lynne Franks (PR consultant), Rodney Marsh (ex-footballer, now pundit), Cerys Matthews (singer), Anna Ryder Richardson (TV interior design expert), Katie Hopkins (would-be apprentice)
Series 8: Dani Behr (TV presenter), Robert Kilroy-Silk (MEP and sometime TV host), Timmy Mallett (TV presenter), Nicola McLean ("glamour" model), Martina Navratilova (tennis legend), Brian Paddick (ex-cop turned politician), Esther Rantzen (TV presenter), Joe Swash (ex-EastEnders actor - winner), George Takei (Star Trek actor), David Van Day (singer), Simon Webbe (singer), Carly Zucker (I'm a Celebrity... contestant)

If an interview with The Guardian is to be believed, I'm a Celeb was originally intended to be a "serious sociological experiment" until Ant and Dec got on board, where they told producers in no uncertain terms how absolutely ridiculous that was. Hurrah for Ant and Dec!