Bosses purposely decided to avoid getting politicians on this year’s I’m A Celebrity, can reveal.
ITV producers are trying to push for a more ‘positive’ series after controversial politicians Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage divided viewership on their stint.
Bosses are hoping the decision to rope in WAG Coleen Rooney, off the back of the Wagatha Christie case, will bring back a ‘positive, happy and funnier camp’.
A source said: ‘ITV producers are pushing for a more ‘positive’ I’m a Celebrity after reviewing previous series which saw the likes of controversial politicians Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage divide its viewership.
‘Changing the show’s fundamental format, producers have added two camp leaders to allow contestants to create bonds.
Bosses purposely decided to avoid getting politicians on this year’s I’m A Celebrity, can reveal (Ant and Dec pictured last year)
ITV producers are trying to push for a more ‘positive’ series after controversial politicians Matt Hancock (right) and Nigel Farage (left) divided viewership on their stint
‘Executive producer Olly Nash said ‘All we want to see is a year of positive, happy, funny camp. This year there’s a stronger chance of becoming a stronger family. We want to recreate the golden years of 2018 and Harry Redknapp.’
have contacted ITV for a comment.
The no-politician policy on the channel’s flagship show is a blow for ex-MPs hoping to remain in the public eye.
Nigel proved a tricky participant for ITV, regularly accusing the broadcaster of foul play during and after his stint on the show in 2023.
He warned the channel’s director Kevin Lygo against going to ‘war’ with him, claiming that his life had been made ‘quite unpleasant’ while on the show.
Nigel said bosses deliberately censored him, reduced his airtime and chose to show him – but no other contestant – naked while showering in the n jungle.
Supporters followed up his accusations online with calls on X for ITV to be ‘held accountable’ for censoring the politician.
In the final week of the show, the controversy prompted I’m A Celebrity’s hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly to declare on their Instagram live channel Jungle Club: ‘I think we do a year without any politicians.’
Bosses are hoping the decision to rope in WAG Coleen Rooney (pictured), off the back of the Wagatha Christie case, will bring back a ‘positive, happy and funnier camp’
The no-politician policy on the channel’s flagship show is a blow for ex-MPs hoping to remain in the public eye
Nigel proved a tricky participant for ITV, regularly accusing the broadcaster of foul play during and after his stint on the show in 2023
When hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were asked if Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could be a potential future campmate previously, Dec said: ‘I think we do a year without any politicians.’
Ant added: ‘Agreed, agreed, agreed.’
The order to ditch the politicians has come from ITV bosses after a lot of viewers chose to skip last year’s edition of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The 2023 final saw viewing figures plummet by 4million with an average of just 6.6million people tuning in compared to 10.1million in 2022.
ITV bosses believe that the slump in viewing figures is due to the recent inclusion of controversial politicians in the line-up of celebrities.
Politicians have become a staple of the I’m a Celeb cast in recent years. Other politicians who have taken part include veteran Tory Edwina Currie, Lib Dem Lembit Öpik and former leader of Scottish Labour Kezia Dugdale.
Nadine Dorries famously took part in the 2012 edition of the show where she was the first to be voted out of the jungle. Then Prime Minister suspended Ms Dorries from the Conservative Party for taking part in the show while she was a sitting MP.
Hoping to bring a fun, exciting and positive swing to the show, Coleen will join the likes of former Strictly pro dancer Oti Mabuse, 34, and McFly singer Danny Jones, 38 (pictured on Tuesday)
The mother-of-four paid tribute to her family by flying out to Brisbane on Monday wearing a gold necklace with her son’s names on it as she prepares to be without them for the next month (pictured)
Coleen finally agreed to sign up following years of being approached by bosses given her 16-year marriage to Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne is in a strong position and their four children Kai, 14, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, six, are older
She shared on Instagram a pre-recorded video displaying two white boards filled with plans she has organised in advanced for her children
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‘I have planned and prepped, I have an army of people, family and friends, school friends, all helping out with the kids and they’re probably going to have a great time while I’m away.’
Influencer GK Barry, 25, and Loose Woman Jane Moore, 62, also touched down in on Tuesday ahead of their stint.
Coleen finally agreed to sign up following years of being approached by bosses given her 16-year marriage to Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne is in a strong position and their four children Kai, 14, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, six, are older.
The mother-of-four paid tribute to her family by flying out to Brisbane on Monday wearing a gold necklace with her son’s names on it as she prepares to be without them for the next month.
She shared on Instagram a pre-recorded video displaying two white boards filled with plans she has organised in advanced for her children.
She said: ‘I can confirm I am going in the jungle… do you know what they have asked me for so many years now and I have always said no or put it off because the kids have been young and I’ve had a lot on…
‘But this year I thought, do you know what? I quite fancy doing it. I would like to experience something different, do something for myself, meet new people, I am looking forward to doing the trials.
‘Don’t get me wrong, I really anxious about leaving the kids, which is the biggest thing. For weeks and months that has been on my mind but I have come to terms with it.
‘I have planned and prepped, I have an army of people, family and friends, school friends, all helping out with the kids and they’re probably going to have a great time while I’m away.’