I’m A Celebrity bosses learn from past mistakes as politician-free series is a huge hit with viewers

First it was Matt Hancock and then Nigel Farage who led Ant and Dec to call for politicians on I’m A Celebrity to go on hiatus after their performances divided viewers.

And it seems ITV’s flagship show has learned from its mistakes as it reaps the rewards of a ‘fun’ and non-controversial line-up, showering praise from staff and viewers.

As ratings soared last year, surpassing 8 million in three days, fans online are sharing that they can: “Finally watch again now that they’ve learned not to put divisive politicians in the jungle.”

A show insider told the Mail: ‘Everyone was so pleasantly surprised at how nice it was to chat to the cast this year before they went in, because that’s not always the case.

‘It has made such a difference to the show, both in front of the camera and during production, behind the scenes.

‘Everyone is thrilled with how relatable they all seem and it’s the perfect combination of people for the kind of year they were hoping for this time around.’

And it seems ITV’s flagship show has learned from its mistakes as it reaps the rewards of a ‘fun’ and non-controversial line-up, with staff and viewers receiving rave reviews (Matt Hancock pictured in the 2023 series)

In the first three episodes alone, viewers cried after Barry McGuigan opened up about losing his daughter, Danika, to breast cancer and laughed about McFly’s Danny Jones getting a snake stuck in his pants.

ITV are said to be very happy with the show’s trajectory as Coleen Rooney, who reportedly paid £1.5million to appear on the show, has reassured fans by tackling the Wagatha Christie trial.

One viewer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘It’s nice to have a series without politicians. It’s much more watchable.’

Another added: ‘We can watch again now that you’ve stopped supporting vile politicians like Farage.’

It comes after the show’s long-standing executive producer, Olly Nash, told the Mail they were hoping to recreate ‘the golden year of the show’ of 2018, without any politicians in the line-up.

After the first episode, presenter Ant McPartlin said: ‘Compared to last year it’s just fun. No one is cynical this year.’

Last year, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, 60, appeared on the show and long-time presenters Ant and Dec, both 49, called for a break from politicians.

The controversial former UKIP leader, who was reportedly paid £1.5 million to appear on the show, made no secret of the fact he was there to appeal to a new audience.

A show insider told the Mail: ‘Everyone was so pleasantly surprised at how nice the cast were to talk to this year before they went in, because that’s not always the case (Tulisa pictured)

‘It has made such a difference to the show, both in front of the camera and during production, behind the scenes’ (Coleen Rooney pictured)

‘Everyone is thrilled with how relatable they all seem and it’s the perfect combination of people’ (Dean McCullough pictured)

But ITV ran into trouble with allies of Mr Farage while he was in the Jungle, who grew increasingly angry over “crazy diary tricks” against him on the show and said they were consulting lawyers over his treatment.

The Mail on Sunday revealed that his assistants had sent a letter of complaint claiming the network had breached an ‘indecency’ clause in his contract by showing him naked.

After finishing in third place, Farage accused ITV boss Kevin Lygo of making his life ‘quite unpleasant’ while in the Jungle.

Since leaving the show, Mr Farage has claimed he was deliberately censored and that ITV has cut his airtime and opted to show him naked, which the channel has denied.