South Africa again hosts a major international TV production as ITV revives I’m A Celebrity… South Africa, a spin-off featuring the franchise’s best-known former contestants.
The programme has built a strong following among viewers familiar with the I’m A Celebrity format. Fans enjoy seeing familiar campmates face a more intense version of the challenge. Its return also highlights South Africa’s appeal as a production location. Big entertainment brands choose the country for its landscapes, scale, and capacity to host ambitious TV projects.
This edition reunites former campmates in South Africa for new trials and competition. Ant and Dec host, promising tougher challenges and a stronger all-stars atmosphere than usual.
Unlike the main jungle programme, this version is pre-recorded. However, the format changes in one key way: the final includes a live public vote. Viewers will choose who wins during the closing broadcast from London.
That adjustment gives the spin-off a stronger sense of event television. It also helps ITV keep audience participation central. The format relies on viewer loyalty and nostalgia.
The 2026 line-up features TV personalities, sports stars, and former fan favourites: Adam Thomas, Ashley Roberts, Scarlett Moffatt, David Haye, Beverley Callard, Seann Walsh, Sinitta, Sir Mo Farah, Gemma Collins, Craig Charles, Jimmy Bullard, and Harry Redknapp.
The variety is part of the attraction. The cast includes former winners, runners-up and familiar reality stars. This mix creates unpredictable moments that often drive the show’s biggest scenes.
For some contestants, the return means unfinished business. Beverley Callard, for example, took part during the pandemic period, when the usual jungle setting was replaced. Now, the South African backdrop offers a different experience and a more traditional version of the challenge.
The series begins on Monday, 6 April, at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Episodes will air on weekdays, leading up to the live final on Friday, 24 April.
For South Africa, the significance goes beyond the show. Productions this size strengthen the country’s image as a destination for global entertainment brands. For viewers, the appeal is simpler: a familiar format, a recognisable cast, and a South African setting with unique scale and atmosphere.
