I’m A Celebrity South Africa won’t be returning for a second series despite being a ratings success.
The special spin-off saw favourite celebrities from the main ITV show, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here heading to South Africa to compete in an all-stars version, with hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly at the helm.
Myleene Klass was named the ultimate ‘legend’ after defeating campmates Helen Flanagan, Joe Swash, and Jordan Banjo.
While the episodes in Australia’s traditional annual show are live and show highlights from the previous 24 hours, the spin-off was pre-recorded.
This meant that instead of the public voting on who leaves and who eventually wins, the outcome was determined by trials.
In the final battle between Myleene and Jordan, they had to face a disgusting eating challenge. Fermented eggs, pig snouts, chicken intestines, mouse tails, and stinky tofu were among the stomach-churning foods offered.
Last year, fans of I’m A Celebrity got two series of the popular show, that began in 2002, but it has now been confirmed it was a one-off to mark a special anniversary.
An ITV spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘I’m A Celebrity… South Africa was commissioned to air in 2023 to celebrate favourite campmates from the past 20 years as they returned to the jungle.
‘The series was one of the biggest Entertainment shows of the year averaging 5.2million across its consecutive weeknight run and reaching over 1 million 16-34s for the launch episode.
‘It was never planned for the series to return again this year.’
This means we’ll have to wait until November to see who Sam Thompson will pass his floral crown to, but the use of ‘this year’ may hint at a future return.
Ant and Dec, both 48, previously hinted that it could return during an Instagram live. When one fan asked if Ferne McCann could do I’m A Celebrity, Ant replied: ‘Ferne’s already done it, she’s already done it! But she could do South Africa when we do that. We could have her on that.
‘We must do a little South Africa list.’
After winning the Kruger National Park-filmed show, Myleene, 46, donated the entire £100,000 prize money to Save The Children UK.
‘I’ve seen for myself, this money will go far. The mouse tails and rotten tofu were worth it,’ she remarked.
The lineup included Carol Vorderman, Paul Burrell, Dean Gaffney, Janice Dickinson, Andy Whyment, Georgia Toffolo, Amir Khan, Gillian McKeith, and Shaun Ryder.
Source My Celebrity Life.