I’m a celebrity… Get me out of here! has dropped the Jungle King and Queen gender categories for men and women for the new South Africa series.
In this All Star series, famous faces from past seasons of the Australian version return to take on the wilderness once again.
But instead of the winner being a king or queen of the jungle at the end of the three-week competition, they’re crowned I’m A Celebrity ‘Legend’.
The change has been made for the first time in 21 years as the All Stars version reaches ITV.
It comes after I’m A Celebrity fans all had the same complaint as the South African spin-off that hit ITV viewers’ screens, labeling it as ‘wrong’.
Change: I’m a celebrity… Get me out of here! has dropped the Jungle King and Queen gender categories for men and women for the new South Africa series
Back cover: In this All Star series, famous faces from past seasons of the Australian version return to tackle the wild again
Finale: But instead of the winner being a King or Queen of the Jungle at the end of the three-week competition, he will be crowned I’m A Celebrity ‘Legend’
The show was pre-recorded in South Africa’s Kruger National Park last year and the first episode aired on Monday.
The lack of public votes means the stars, including Carol Vorderman, Helen Flanagan and Amir Khan, will be competing against each other and thus not be on their way to royal status – instead they will simply be competing with each other.
A statement from ITV read: ‘Without a public vote, they will go head to head in a battle to become the first ever ‘I’m A Celebrity Legend’.’
Viewers took to Twitter to express their frustration with the new format, with one penning: ‘If it’s all pre-recorded! Not live. Do not look.’
Another said, “I’m looking forward to the I’m A Celeb All Stars show, but it’s a shame it’s not live and we can’t vote because it’s pre-recorded.”
A third wrote: ‘I don’t like how it’s all pre-recorded! If Love Island can do it, anyone can!’
One user added, “I really don’t see the point of this. I’m a celebrity in South Africa when it’s all pre-recorded, no voting – just a swizz really, probably know who wins if you search online too I guess. ‘
Someone wrote, “Doesn’t quite feel the same as it was shot last September.”
Alternate: The change has been made for the first time in 21 years as the All Stars version reaches ITV (pictured, Helen Flanagan)
Setup: The show was pre-recorded last year in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, with the first episode airing on Monday
Not live: It comes after I’m A Celebrity fans all had the same complaint as the South African spin-off hit ITV viewers’ screens labeled it ‘wrong’
In addition to news of the winners, it has also been reported that two latecomers will be joining the cast – in the form of winners Georgia Toffolo and Joe Swash.
An insider told The Mirror: “There will still be a winner of the show, but they won’t be crowned in the same way…
“There’s no public vote and they’ve all run before, so the bosses decided they couldn’t really be crowned King or Queen. Instead, one celebrity is given legendary status.”
A host of stars star in the series, including boxer Amir Khan, 36, former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan, 32, and TV presenter Carol Vorderman, 62.
They are joined by the late Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell, 64, Happy Mondays star Shaun Ryder, 60, Janice Dickinson, retired javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread, 62, and former England international cricketer Phil Tufnell, 56.
The Sun reports that Dean Gaffney, 45, Joe Swash, 41, Andy Whyment, 42, Myleene Klass, 45, and Georgia Toffolo, 28, will arrive at camp later in the series.