It’s the survival show that’s famous for pushing its stars to the limit.
And now an insider has revealed an embarrassing security issue that almost ruined a previous season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here before it even aired.
The cringe-inducing incident happened after a contestant went ‘feral’ and disappeared from his South African hotel room just before filming.
The missing celebrity athlete was later found drinking and enjoying local hospitality at a pub.
Because the star was a well-known face, his public appearance compromised the show’s “surprise factor,” in which most of the cast is kept under wraps until the season premiere.
An insider has revealed an embarrassing security flaw that almost ruined a previous season of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here before it even aired. Pictured: 2024 host Robert Irwin and Julia Morris.
Alex Mavroidakis, ITV’s supervising executive producer for the series, narrates news.com.au that the incident happened a few years ago on the show, but the contestant’s name would not be mentioned.
“He went missing and was found in a local pub around 11pm by our security team,” he said in an interview on Saturday. ‘
“Our team knew a lot of locals and started calling all the places this Australian sportsman might have visited, and one of the people said, ‘Yes, he’s in this pub’.”
The cringe-inducing incident occurred after a contestant went “feral” and disappeared from his South African hotel room just before filming a few years ago, News.com reported Saturday. Pictured: A scene from a recent episode of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here.
“So we went to pull him back. I had to have a very stern word with him.’
Elsewhere in the chat, Mavroidakis explained the strict security measures in place before production.
These include keeping the participants’ identities a secret from other cast members before they all arrive in the African jungle.
None of the celebrities share the same hotel and they are booked on different flights during their trip.
Alex Mavroidakis, ITV’s supervising executive producer for the series, told News.com that the incident happened on the show a few years ago, but would not name the contestant.
Mavroidakis added that the cast will also be blindfolded before entering the camp for filming.
Hosted by Juila Morris and Robert Irwin, this season of the hit show features AFL legend Peter Daicos, Hollywood actor Frankie Muniz, Australian radio host Brittany Hockley and former ironwoman Candice Warner, wife of Australian cricketer David Warner.
Also in the cast are retired Paralympian Ellie Cole, British comedian Stephen K. Amos, influencer Skye Wheatley and former Studio 10 presenter Tristan MacManus.
The cast is completed by fitness guru Michelle Bridges, reality star Callum Hole and MasterChef contestant Khanh Ong.