OPINION
JUNGLE FEVER
I’ve watched every series of I’m a Celeb – here’s why 2024 is the best we have had in years
A mixture of anger and frustration engulfs me with every exit, but there's a good reason
THERE have been far too many eliminations this year that have got me really angry with I'm A Celebrity.
Last night Melvin Odoom was the fourth person to get the boot from the infamous Australian camp.
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At the start of every episode when Ant and Dec rattle through the names of the remaining campmates, I feel a sense of dread.
And with every eviction it has been like a punch to the stomach because even though someone has to go, I don't want anyone to.
I was previously left outraged by the fact Tulisa - who actually was one of my favourites - was the third campmate to be sent packing.
In fact, I was outraged that ITV viewers did not vote to save her like I did, as she was a real go-getter with a generous spirit in camp.
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She made me howl with laughter with how she dealt with Dean hiding the crumpets after the money twist.
The fact that she couldn't even remember the names of her fellow co-stars during the Shock Round The Clock will be a moment that will live on in I'm A Celebrity infamy.
I was also absolutely heartbroken to see that The Sun's very own Jane Moore become the first celebrity to be eliminated from the competition.
Her straight talking persona provided camp with a real breath of fresh air.
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The Loose Women personality showed real grit and determination in the Fright at the End of the Tunnel trial.
She kept calm and tried to carry on the best that she could, even though her goggles were steaming up underground.
Shock blunder as I'm A Celeb's GK Barry accidentally announces Richard Coles' partner has 'passed on' but he finds it hilarious
Our hearts were touched again when she helped Love Island's Maura Higgins as she flailed her way through the phone task.
Speaking of which, every time Maura makes a religious reference in front of the Reverend Richard Coles is a new moment of TV gold.
Looking at the rest of camp, the exits are only going to get more painful because let's be real, this is the best lineup we have had on the show in years.
I have made it no secret that I want McFly's Danny Jones to be crowned the next King of the Jungle.
I'm A Celebrity 2024
i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year..
Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities.
Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle.
GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice.
Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom Fletcher.
Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache."
Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity, and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."
He's always personable, always smiling, and is always incredibly entertaining with his infectious energy.
But the other stars have truly given us fantastic television too, from Oti's emotional confessions to Coleen always (and predictably) talking about her husband Wayne.
At times I have thought that some of the trials were very unfair and I carried the frustration that left my favourite campmates hard done by.
Barry McGuigan really tried his best at the Spiralling Out of Control trial and I screamed at the screen when those balls did not go into the hatches.
Let's be real, this is the best lineup we have on I'm A Celebrity in years.
When Melvin wanted to quit because of the 'biblical' rainfall, being from the UK you would have to have a heart of stone not to relate in some way as he sought shelter in the bush telegraph.
But the point is that I have detected a strange sensation of deep feeling inside my soul with every second of this years I'm A Celebrity.
The series has given me outrage, it's given me laughter, I have even felt my eyes slightly water with the more emotional confessions.
It has always been entertaining to watch and I have felt myself rooting for every campmate on at least on one occasion. Yes, even Dean.
This year it is not just focused on one highlight camp-mate like a Sam Thompson or a Kim Woodburn from series past.
As Ant and Dec rattle through the names of the remaining campmates, I feel a sense of dread.
We have not been focused on one particular angle like Charlene White dragging Matt Hancock across the coals or how Fred Sirieix hates Nigel Farage.
In an age of streaming when Netflix and Amazon Prime reign supreme, the fact that it still manages to get over six million viewers every night proves that interest in the show remains high.
It also displays just how much of a well rounded cast we have received this year and they are truly earning their rice and beans tenfold.
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So I want to send ITV bosses a personal thank you, hopefully we can have the same feeling in years to come.
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I'm A Celebrity continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
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