OPINION
JUNGLE RUMBLE
I’m A Celebrity South Africa review: ITV show FINALLY heating up after jungle drought
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I’M A Celebrity’s nostalgic All-Stars show turned up the heat tonight — and we’re finally starting to see what we’re all tuning in for.
From fraying tempers, foul food and famous faces hitting their limits, it's the make-or-break point of every series; and it's coming.
I'm A Celebrity South Africa might have failed to cause a stir for fans in its debut episode on Monday, but the latest instalment saw ITV up the ante, dishing out difficult pairings, and even more difficult trials.
It felt painful that Ant and Dec were quick to announce that they had chosen amongst themselves who would face the first trial - instead of the familiar Australian format of opening the phone lines .
But while it was upsetting to not be able to vote ten times for Gillian McKeith - in hopes of her re-enacting her iconic 'passing out' scene - ITV made sure its latest trial was extra gross to make up for it.
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Naturally, there's nothing quite like watching celebs gag their guts up eating crocodile "a***-hole", testicles and a penis on a cocktail stick.
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The delightfully disgusting viewing saw Janice Dickenson and Jordan Banjo throwing up in the bush in cringe-worthy scenes that are just impossible to look away from.
And there's something equally enjoyable about the nostalgia of Janice, 68, flirting with host Dec, 47, and bringing her defiant attitude towards the trials just as she did back in 2007.
In fact, the latest series undoubtedly consolidates all the best bits - and most memorable moments - of the last 21 years.
While an All-Stars cast may have seemed like a cop-out to find new celebrities to torment, it does stir up good memories from series' gone by, especially for those of us who have tuned in since 2002.
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Of course we wanted to see if Paul Burrell can stick his hand in a hole without screaming bloody murder a second time; which as we found out last night, he can't.
And you'd be lying if you aren't curious to see if Fatima Whitbread could blow a cockroach out of her nose a second time, or what Carol Vorderman will wear in the shower.
Missing out on the fan vote, and the all-important 'LIVE' stamp at the bottom of the screen, rightly does cause trouble.
There was an undoubtable soreness over Ant and Dec joking over "only doing the Deals On Wheels in Australia" - a twang to the heartstrings over the much-loved format that has worked for so long.
And of course it marks for harder viewing knowing that the unpredictability factor of the public sending home the celebs won't take place, and instead ITV push the drama themselves.
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But the production behind-the-scenes haven't missed a shot so far with their unnatural celeb pairings.
It marks for no mistake that the most contrasting celebrities were jammed together tonight - especially for TV personality Gillian, 63, and her old arch nemesis Shaun Ryder.
Gillian's arrival made for a promising clash; with Shaun, 60, joking she should've "stayed in the box", the camp mates did their best to stir drama too in whispers of their old feud.
But while they made up, turned a new leaf - and with tempers yet to fray between the pair, it's likely to only be a matter of time.
And as food quickly becomes a problem in camp - with Helen Flanagan only eating rice and beans and arguments stirring over "too many cooks" in the kitchen - hunger kicking in could speed things up.
I'm A Celeb fans will know that when food becomes scarce, that summer camp joy between its competing celebs can disappear, and quickly.
Now with three more celebs set to join the action: Andy Whyment, Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo and Myleene Klass, surely things can only get messier.
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It's what everyone is waiting for - isn't it?
I'm A Celebrity South Africa returns Wednesday at 9pm on ITV and ITV2
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