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

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

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!

From 2015 I'm a Celebrity is sponsored by Aunt Bessie's. Frozen foods store Iceland sponsored the programme between 2006-14, one of the longest brand associations on television. Prior to this, First Choice Holidays sponsored the three series during 2004 and 2005, and the energy drink V did the run in spring 2003. The 2002 series did not attract sponsorship.

In 2015, Thorpe Park opened an I'm a Celebrity... walk-through maze. Visitors to the theme park would traverse tunnels, corridors, and dark rooms to collect gold stars, as well as taking on other challenges simulating the show's infamous Bushtucker Trials. And before you ask, ahead of its launch, the park's director clarified that they didn't expect guests to eat the unsavoury items seen on the programme.

The 2020 and 2021 series had to be filmed at Gwrych Castle in Wales as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Champions

2002 Tony Blackburn
2003 Phil Tufnell
2004 Kerry McFadden (Spring series)
2004 Joe Pasquale (Autumn series)
2005 Carol Thatcher
2006 Matt Willis
2007 Christopher Biggins
2008 Joe Swash
2009 Gino D'Acampo
2010 Stacey Solomon
2011 Dougie Poynter
2012 Charlie Brooks
2013 Kian Egan
2014 Carl Fogarty
2015 Vicky Pattison
2016 Scarlett Moffatt
2017 Georgia Toffolo
2018 Harry Redknapp
2019 Jacqueline Jossa
2020 Giovanna Fletcher

Participants

2002

• Tony Blackburn (DJ)
• 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)

2003

• Phil Tufnell (cricketer)
• John Fashanu (ex-footballer)
• Linda Barker (TV interior design expert)
• Anthony Worrall Thompson (chef)
• Wayne Sleep (dancer)
• Catalina Guirado (model)
• Danniella Westbrook (actress)
• Siân Lloyd (ITV weathergirl)
• Chris Bisson (ex-Coronation Street actor)
• Toyah Willcox (singer and TV presenter)

2004 (Spring series)

• Kerry McFadden (TV presenter)
• 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)

2004 (Autumn series)

• Joe Pasquale (comedian)
• Brian Harvey (ex-East 17 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 (All Saints singer)
• Vic Reeves (comedian)

2005

• Carol Thatcher (daughter of Maggie)
• Antony Costa (ex-Blue singer)
• Kimberley Davies (sometime Neighbours starlet)
• David Dickinson (Mr Cheap as Chips)
• Jenny Frost (Atomic Kitten singer)
• Jilly Goolden (wine expert)
• Elaine Lourdan (EastEnders actress)
• Sheree Murphy (Emmerdale actress)
• Jimmy Osmond (Osmond brother)
• Sid Owen (ex-EastEnders actor)
• Tommy Cannon (comedy partner of Bobby Ball)
• Bobby Ball (comedy partner of Tommy Cannon)

2006

• Matt Willis (ex-Busted member)
• Toby Anstis (ex-CBBC presenter)
• Lauren Booth (sister-in-law of Tony Blair)
• Faith Brown (impressionist)
• Malandra Burrows (Emmerdale actress)
• Jason Donovan (ex-Neighbours actor)
• Dean Gaffney (ex-EastEnders actor)
• 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 actress)

2007

• Christopher Biggins (actor)
• Gemma Atkinson (ex-Hollyoaks actress)
• Marc Bannerman (ex-EastEnders actor)
• Jason "J" Brown (ex-5ive member)
• John Burton Race (Michelin-starred chef)
• Janice Dickinson (supermodel)
• Lynne Franks (PR consultant)
• Rodney Marsh (ex-footballer, now pundit)
• Cerys Matthews (ex-Catatonia singer)
• Anna Ryder Richardson (TV interior design expert)
• Katie Hopkins (would-be apprentice)

2008

• Joe Swash (ex-EastEnders actor)
• 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)
• George Takei (Star Trek actor)
• David Van Day (Dollar singer)
• Simon Webbe (ex-Blue singer)
• Carly Zucker (I'm a Celebrity... contestant)

2009

• Gino D'Acampo (chef)
• Lucy Benjamin (ex-EastEnders actress)
• George Hamilton (actor)
• Stuart Manning (Hollyoaks actor)
• Camilla Dallerup (Strictly Come Dancing professional)
• Jimmy White (snooker player)
• Sam Fox (page 3 model)
• Colin McAllister (TV interior design expert)
• Justin Ryan (TV interior design expert)
• Sabrina Washington (ex-Mis-Teeq singer)
• Kim Woodburn (How Clean is Your House? presenter)
• Katie Price (model formerly known as Jordan)
• Joe Bugner (boxer)

2010

• Stacey Solomon (ex-X Factor contestant)
• Kayla Collins (Playboy model)
• Linford Christie (Olympic gold medalist)
• Britt Ekland (actress)
• Sheryl Gascoigne (ex-Mrs Paul Gascoigne)
• Nigel Havers (actor)
• Gillian McKeith (presenter)
• Lembit Öpik (former Lib Dem MP)
• Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays singer)
• Aggro Santos (rapper)
• Dom Joly (comedian)
• Jenny Eclair (comedian)
• Alison Hammond (ex-Big Brother housemate)

2011

• Willie Carson (former jockey)
• Lorraine Chase (erstwhile Blankety Blank regular and Emmerdale actress)
• Jessica-Jane Clement (model)
• Antony Cotton (Coronation Street actor)
• Dougie Poynter (McFly bassist)
• Stefanie Powers (actress)
• Crissy Rock (Benidorm actress)
• Emily Scott (glamour model)
• Pat Sharp (TV and radio presenter)
• Sinitta ('80's pop star)
• Freddie Starr (host of The Freddie Starr Showcase)
• Fatima Whitbread (Olympic javelin thrower)
• Mark Wright (The Only Way Is Essex star)

2012

• Colin Baker (sixth Doctor Who)
• Eric Bristow (darts player)
• Charlie Brooks (Eastenders' Janine Butcher)
• Brian Conley (television entertainer)
• Nadine Dorries (MP for Mid-Bedfordshire)
• Helen Flanagan (Coronation Street's Rosie Webster)
• David Haye (boxer)
• Ashley Roberts (singer in Pussycat Dolls)
• Linda Robson (Birds of a Feather star)
• Hugo Taylor (Made in Chelsea person)

2013

• Rebecca Adlington (swimmer)
• Steve Davis (snooker player)
• Kian Egan (from Westlife)
• David Emanuel (wedding dress designer)
• Joey Essex (from The Only Way is Essex)
• Annabel Giles (Hit the Road star)
• Laila Morse (Mo Harris in Eastenders)
• Lucy Pargeter (Chas Dingle in Emmerdale)
• Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
• Vincent Simone (Strictly Come Dancing regular)
• Amy Willerton (Miss Universe contestant)
• Matthew Wright (talk show host)

2014

• Michael Buerk (journalist)
• Jimmy Bullard (retired footballer)
• Craig Charles (Cyberzone host)
• Gemma Collins (obligatory TOWIE person)
• Carl Fogarty (motorcycle driver)
• Nadia Forde (model)
• Vicki Michelle (Yvette Carte-Blanche from Allo Allo)
• Tinchy Stryder (rapper)
• Melanie Sykes (from The Vault)
• Kendra Wilkinson (TV reality star)
• Edwina Currie (ex-MP)
• Jake Quickenden (X Factor contestant)

2015

• Duncan Bannatyne (Dragon)
• Lady Colin Campbell (royal biographer; known on set as "Lady C")
• Susannah Constantine (from What Not to Wear)
• Kieron Dyer (footballer)
• Chris Eubank (boxer)
• Yvette Fielding (from Blue Peter and Most Haunted)
• Brian Friedman (choreographer and The X Factor judge)
• Tony Hadley (from Spandau Ballet)
• Ferne McCann (from The Only Way is Essex)
• Spencer Matthews (from Made in Chelsea)
• Vicky Pattison (from Geordie Shore)
• Jorgie Porter (Theresa McQueen on Hollyoaks)
• George Shelley (from Union J)

2016

• Danny Baker (from Pets Win Prizes)
• Jordan Banjo (from Diversity)
• Wayne Bridge (England footballer)
• Joel Dommett (Reality Bites regular)
• Ola Jordan (Strictly Come Dancing professional)
• Larry Lamb (Archie Mitchell in Eastenders)
• Scarlett Moffatt (from Gogglebox)
• Sam Quek (hockey player)
• Martin Roberts (Homes Under the Hammer)
• Lisa Snowdon (Britain's Next Top Model host)
• Adam Thomas (Adam Barton on Emmerdale)
• Carol Vorderman (vital statistician)

2017

• Kezia Dugdale (politician)
• Stanley Johnson (author)
• Amir Khan (boxer)
• Shappi Khorsandi (comedian)
• Iain Lee (host and comedian)
• Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox on Hollyoaks)
• Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Brown on Coronation Street)
• Jack Maynard (vlogger)
• Georgia Toffolo (from Made in Chelsea)
• Becky Vardy (wife of footballer Jamie Vardy)
• Vanessa White (one of The Saturdays)
• Dennis Wise (footballer)

2018

• Emily Atack (comedy actor, Charlotte from The Inbetweeners)
• John Barrowman (entertainer, actor, and many many more)
• Fleur East (The X Factor alumna)
• Noel Edmonds (live television legend)
• Anne Hegerty (The Chase star)
• Sair Khan (Alya Nazir in Coronation Street)
• Nick Knowles (DIY SOS and many game shows)
• James McVey (sings in The Vamps pop group)
• Harry Redknapp (football manager)
• Rita Simons (Roxy Mitchell in Eastenders)
• Malique Thompson-Dwyer (Prince McQueen in Hollyoaks)

2019

• Nadine Coyle (20% of Girls Aloud)
• Kate Garraway (People's Quiz Goddess)
• James Haskell (rugby player, Richard Madeley's son-in-law)
• Caitlyn Jenner (television personality)
• Jacqueline Jossa (Lauren Branning in Eastenders)
• Roman Kemp (Takeshi's Castle commentator, son of Martin Kemp)
• Myles From Rak-Su (Myles Stephenson to his mother)
• Adele Roberts (Radio 1 DJ and Big Brother alumna)
• Andrew Maxwell (Ex on the Beach narrator)
• Ian Wright (from Wright Around the World)

2020

• Hollie Arnold (javelin athlete)
• Beverley Callard (Liz McDonald from Coronation Street)
• Victoria Derbyshire (current affairs broadcaster)
• Mo Farah (long-distance runner)
• Giovanna Fletcher (author and podcaster)
• Vernon Kay (telly host)
• Jordan North (Radio 1 host)
• Jessica Plummer (Chantelle Atkins from Eastenders)
• AJ Pritchard (Strictly professional)
• Shane Richie (telly host)

Merchandise

Series 1 (VHS) | (DVD)

The Inside Story (paperback)

Web links

Official site and social media: Youtube, Facebook, @imacelebrity and Instagram.

Off the Telly review

Wikipedia entry

TV Tropes entry

IMDB entry

See also

I'm an Aussie... Get Me Out of Here!

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