I’m A Celebrity… South Africa: Carol Vorderman and Amir Khan face dramatic cliff challenge
Viewers of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa were elated when the first of the stars threw herself off a huge cliff when the series kicked off Monday night.
TV presenter Carol Vorderman, 62, Diversity dancer Jordan Banjo, 30, and former boxer Amir Khan, 36, were challenged to walk off a terrifyingly high platform in an attempt to win food for the camp during the series’ premiere.
After arriving in Kruger National Park, they found a tape recorder with a voice message from hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly explaining that they would immediately take on their first task in the hopes of winning a star, which would equate to a meal , for the camp.
The nervous trio learned that they would individually make a dizzying 50-meter drop over the edge of an imposing mountain.
Once they fell off the edge, they had to locate and remember a numbered code until they were hoisted back up.
Back with a bang: Viewers of I’m A Celebrity…South Africa were elated when the first of the stars threw herself off a massive cliff as the series began Monday night (Carol Vorderman photo)
Gameplay: TV presenter Carol Vorderman, 62, Diversity dancer Jordan Banjo, 30, and former boxer Amir Khan, 36, were challenged to walk off a terrifyingly high platform (Amir pictured)
Former Countdown math expert Carol, who first appeared on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! bravely chose to go first in 2016 when she jumped off the edge and flew down in front of the sheer cliff face.
KISS Breakfast host Jordan, who also first joined the show in 2016, was next to jump off the platform and seemingly casually walk away before descending.
Sportsman Amir, who appeared on I’m A Celeb in 2017, seemed tense, but successfully threw himself over the edge before returning to the top.
All three stars memorized their codes and gained their stars, meaning they all got food for the camp.
Viewers took to Twitter to voice their thoughts as they watched the dramatic scenes unfold.
One person joked, “Carol Vorderman definitely has bigger b**ls than Amir Khan #ImACeleb.”
Someone else posted: ‘#ImACeleb well done to Carol and Jordan. Jordan really went for it my god…”
Commenting on how Jordan seemed to calmly walk over the edge, someone else tweeted, “#ImACeleb Meanwhile, Jordan walks off the platform like an absolute G #ImACeleb,” while another person posted, “Jordan just walks off the thing # ImACeleb.’
Walking in the air: The nervous trio learned that they would individually take a dizzying 50m drop over the side of an imposing mountain (Jordan Banjo pictured)
Challenge: Once they fell off the edge, they had to locate and remember a numbered code until they were hoisted back up
Success: All three stars memorized their codes and won their stars, meaning they all got food for the camp
Someone else commented, ‘Amir Khan deserves his #ImACeleb fee. Unintentionally hilarious.’
While another amazed fan wrote, “Amir Khan didn’t remember his song #ImACeleb #imacelebrity in any way.”
Another shared, “I didn’t think Amir would remember those numbers. Fair game to him. #ImACeleb.’
While another viewer wrote, “Well done Amir, I certainly didn’t expect him to do that ledge drop #ImACeleb.”
A host of stars appearing in the series have been revealed so far, including boxer Amir, 36, former Coronation Street star Helen, 32, and TV presenter Carol.
They will be joined by the late Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell, 64, Diversity dancer Jordan, 30, Happy Mondays star Shaun, 60, retired javelin thrower Fatima, 62, and former England international cricketer Phil, 56.
The sun reports that Gillian McKeith, 63, Dean Gaffney, 45, Joe Swash, 41, Andy Whyment, 42, Myleene Klass, 45, and Georgia Toffolo, 28, will arrive at camp later in the series.
The new series sees the return of some of I’m A Celebrity’s most memorable campmates…Get Me Out Of Here! in the brand new setting of South Africa.
Amused: Viewers took to Twitter to express their thoughts as they watched the dramatic scenes unfold
The challenges will be bigger and more difficult and the environment tougher and more unforgiving than the usual Australian jungle.
With no public vote, they will compete against each other in a battle to become the first-ever I’m A Celebrity Legend.
The celebs accustomed to lavish lifestyles may be in for quite a shock when they first look around the camp during the show hosted by Ant and Dec.
Their very basic camp has nothing more than a few wooden benches around a fire, some uncomfortable looking camp beds and hammocks and an outdoor shower.
Other features of the setup – which is six times larger than Australia’s – include a chore board with activities such as cooking and collecting wood that need to be pointed out.
In this camp, the wash water does not fall over a natural cliff, but falls from a shower head hanging from a tree.
The entrance to the camp also has a leafy walkway that leads down to a covered tree archway that enters the camp.
The beds are raised off the ground on wooden stilts to protect the stars from sharp creepy critters, but don’t offer a plush mattress.
Comeback: The new series sees the return of some of I’m A Celebrity’s most memorable campmates…Get me out of here! in the brand new setting of South Africa
Tough: The challenges will be bigger and harder and the environment rougher and more unforgiving than the usual Australian jungle
A source told The sun of the new camp: ‘Everything is bigger, scarier and bolder. If the celebrities think they know what to expect, they’re wrong.
“All they can count on is rice and beans!”
The publication reports that the celebrities will be stranded in seclusion surrounded by wildlife about five miles away from the nearest road and 40 minutes’ drive from a village.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa continues on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm.