Jungle grumble
Zara McDermott brutally shuts down Sam Thompson’s dream of being Ant & Dec’s best mate as he heads to I’m A Celeb jungle
It comes after The Sun revealed Sam would be teaming up with Joel Dommett for the new jungle show
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I’M A Celebrity's Sam Thompson's girlfriend Zara McDermott has shut down any dream he had of being Ant and Dec's new best friend.
It comes after the reigning champ heads Down Under to host the new spin-off show.
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But the night before he caught his flight to the Aussie jungle, Sam shared a video of himself in bed with girlfriend Zara where they talked about his forthcoming trip.
In his usual excited way, the former Made In Chelsea star was beaming from ear to ear as he talked about how happy he was to be hosting the I'm A Celeb spin-off show, Unpacked.
He then shared that the new job meant he would be "best friends with Ant and Dec", who present the main show.
However, Zara quickly poured cold water on his big dream of having two new BFFs and reminded him he was "only hosting the spin-off show" and wasn't "technically" working with the Geordie duo.
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But Sam didn't let this bother him, as he remained defiant that he would become best friends with the star pair.
Meanwhile, last week, 2016 runner-up Joel Dommett confirmed The Sun's exclusive story of Extra Camp's comeback for the upcoming series.
Yet, the additional slice of action Down Under will come under a new name - and now be dubbed I'm A Celebrity Unpacked.
Some viewers are claiming the companion, set to air after the main show, will be on too late and that people enjoy listening to podcasts nowadays instead.
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Taking to a Reddit chatroom, one wrote: "It’s on too late, be better if it was a podcast instead."
Another added: "The problem is that it's just too late to watch it. After an hour and a half of the main show, I don't wanna sit through another hour. Plus it's on every night."
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A third said: "A pre show might work better in all honesty.."
Someone else said: "Remember big brothers little brother, wasn’t that at 6pm every day? I thought that worked well."
A fourth chimed in with: "To be honest I’m surprised they don’t just take this approach and produce a daily podcast? It means people don’t have to dedicate an extra hour in front of TV, after the main show airs - they can just listen to the podcast the following morning - they can sell the ads and it’s cheaper to produce?"
Talking on Good Morning Britain, jungle alum Joel announced its return after a five-year break.
He said: "I feel like it's the right time to bring it back. There's a thirst for it."
He then introduced the rest of the Unpacked presenting "gang" - reigning jungle king Sam Thompson and radio DJ Kemi Rodgers.
Sam said: "I am not joking, it is the best show on TV.
"Being a part of it, then being on the other side, is a dream come true."
Joel added it was a "real privilege" to be a part of I'm A Celeb.
We previously told how the sister series will run alongside the main show, with several hosts.
It will offer viewers inside gossip and entertainment on the all-star campmates.
Joel confirmed the show would see chats with hosts Ant and Dec every day as well as juicy interviews with campmates.
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The last presenters to have fronted the spin-off, alongside Joel, were Emily Atack and Adam Thomas.
Radio 1 DJ Vick Hope hosted a version of it during 2020 called the Daily Drop on ITV Hub.
A show spokeswoman was first to tell us this month: “Since Extra Camp came off air four years ago the conversation and engagement around I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! continues to grow across all social media platforms.
“This new ITV2 companion show will bring together all those conversations in one place, to give viewers the ultimate IAC destination for all of their news, gossip and behind-the-scenes fun around TV’s biggest entertainment show.”
A source said: “There is a huge buzz around I’m A Celeb this year and everyone wants the mischief of Extra Camp to return as well.
“It is believed that there will be a different show name as it makes a comeback with lots of names in the mix to host.
“And it looks like there will be a few presenters as well to add to the fun of the show.”
Stars lined up to appear on the main show include Oti Mabuse, GK Barry, Alan Halsall and Tulisa.
In a huge loss for the show, boxer Tommy Fury pulled out just weeks before filming.
A TV insider said: "Bosses are surprised Tommy has chosen to pull out of I'm A Celebrity at this late stage as it would have been a great opportunity for him too."
They added that some "great names" were waiting in the wings.
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The insider said: "With only weeks to go, bosses have lined up one of the most exciting casts in the show's history."
I'm A Celeb returns on Sunday, November 17, on ITV.
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