The launch episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! was watched by an audience of 10.8 million, according to consolidated figures.
Sunday night saw 7.3 million glued to their screens watching the latest batch of brave celebrities enter the Jungle – one million less viewers than the 2024 launch received.
However, it has now been revealed that whopping 3.5 million watched the opening episode on catch-up, scoring ITV it’s biggest audience since the Euros in July 2024.
The series has now been streamed 35 million times on ITVX, marking an increase of 26 per cent since last year, and propelling the streamer to hit 100 million streams in a week.
And in line with the increase in streaming numbers, I’m A Celebrity succeeded in boosting its popularity with younger demographics, with the number of viewers aged 16-34 reaching a consolidated 2.5 million – ITV’s biggest since the 2022 World Cup.
The ratings will come as a welcome to the broadcaster, as it has been making a strong bid attract younger viewers to I’m A Celebrity in recent years.
The launch episode of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! was watched by an audience of 10.8 million, according to consolidated figures
However, it has now been revealed that whopping 3.5 million watched the opening episode on catch-up, scoring ITV it’s biggest audience since the Euros in July 2024
In response to the initial drop in viewing figures from last year, ITV sources insisted to the Daily Mail that they were anticipating the streaming numbers to be higher.
They said: ‘It’s all in the consolidated figures, Aitch and AngryGinge’s fans will not be sitting down to watch it live, Gen Z tend to watch on catch up.’
ITV have been particularly keen to attract 16-24 year-olds to watch their programmes, because the age group attracts lucrative advertising for the channel.
The last few seasons of I’m A Celebrity have seen them use a variety of tactics to lure in a Gen Z crowd, most significantly by including social media stars on the line-up, such as TikToker and podcast star GK Barry and YouTuber Nella Rose.
This year, they’ve brought on Twitch streamer AngryGinge, who already boasts a huge Gen Z fanbase, with more than five million followers across his social media accounts.
His popularity is such, that the internet personality – real name Morgan Burtwistle – was named the early favourite to be crowned King of the Jungle by bookmakers, before the series even began.
While his friendship with another Gen Z star, 25-year-old rapper Aitch, has also proved popular with viewers and across social media.
This resulted in the voting numbers on Monday night reaching a whopping 1.5million on the app, for Aitch to take on the Bushtucker trial.
The ratings will come as a welcome to the broadcaster, as it has been making a strong bid attract younger viewers to I’m A Celebrity in recent years
This year, they’ve brought on Twitch streamer AngryGinge, who already boasts a huge Gen Z fanbase, with more than five million followers across his social media accounts
And it seems that his turn in the Jungle is paying off for AngryGinge too, with his clever quips and hilarious banter with Aitch and unlikely, but close friendship with Ruby Wax, increasing his popularity even more.
Since arriving in camp, he has amassed over 1.4 million followers on Twitch and 900,000 subscribers on YouTube.
And it’s been reported that his team have already received offers for TV projects, brand deals and a major book contract.
Interest reportedly surged the moment AngryGinge hit TV screens, with broadcasters and big-name retailers all vying to sign him as soon as he returns home.
A source told The Mirror: ‘Since the moment Ginge stepped foot in the jungle, the commercial interest has gone through the roof.
‘He’s been absolutely inundated with offers, far more than anyone predicted. Brands have very quickly clocked that he’s not just a viral creator; he’s genuinely relatable, he speaks the language of real people, and he connects with an audience that many big companies have struggled to reach.’
While his friendship with another Gen Z star, 25-year-old rapper Aitch, has also proved popular with viewers and across social media
The down-to-earth star’s ‘authenticity’ is thought to have caught the eye of several global retailers, who are wanting him to front campaigns, believing he can shift public perception and reach a hard-to-tap audience.
Broadcasters – including ITV, the BBC and Channel 4 – are also thought to have begun preparing approaches, convinced his ‘funny, warm and unfiltered’ outlook could see him becoming a mainstream TV regular.
The source added: ‘Several networks have already made it clear they want to get in the room with him the moment he’s home, whether that’s for entertainment formats, factual shows or even fronting campaigns.’
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues tonight on ITV1 and ITVX
