Published by Mason Oldridge, 22 May 2023
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Ant & Dec head to the South African bush for the all-stars spin-off of I’m a Celebrity.
The format was advertised as previous memorable campmates returning to battle it out for the title of the first ever I’m a Celebrity Legend. Also, this time it would be pre-recorded with the celebrities facing off against each other to avoid elimination as opposed to public vote. While the changes may sound interesting, it initially appears an unnecessary extra to cash in on the original’s popularity. However, the differing format proved to be a good idea as it meant the celebs triumphed based on skill rather than popularity (except the occasional popularity vote among them to keep things dramatic). Unfortunately, the live broadcast was missed knowing it was filmed back in Autumn.
Memorable is a bit of a stretch when it comes to the selection of campmates, though it did feature some standout characters. The return of the dramatic Gillian McKeith was somewhat disappointing as she exited after just a few uneventful days, though Joe Swash and Dean Gaffney’s late arrival provided some comic relief and 2017 winner Toff was as strong and determined as ever. Fatima Whitbread appeared to think she was still in the arena as her competitive nature ruffled a few feathers in camp. She voiced her disapproval of those with contraband, complained about people not doing their jobs correctly and was argumentative in group challenges, making her a very unlikeable contestant to watch. Despite this, the rest of the camp got on relatively well.
I originally believed that only past winners should be allowed; how can you become a legend without even being a winner? However, I was proved wrong as the winner was most deserving. A final eating trial with a sickening twist pitted the two finalists against each other in what was the most dramatic trial in the series’ history. Ant & Dec plus the other contestants watched in shock and horror as Myleene Klass ate excessive amounts of disgusting courses, outperforming Jordan Banjo to receive the Legend title and rightfully so.
In conclusion, this spin-off turned out to be a deserving counterpart to the original as a great measurement of past contestants' strength and determination.
7/10