I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! made its highly-anticipated return on Sunday night and the staggering number of fans that tuned in has been revealed.
A massive 9million viewers watched Ant and Dec’s return to ITV making it the number one entertainment show of 2024 on any channel so far.
The launch episode of I’m A Celebrity, which saw Coleen Rooney, Oti Mabuse and Danny Jones enter the jungle, has already beaten all episodes of Strictly Come Dancing so far this year.
Strictly and I’m A Celeb have been in a ratings battle throughout their 20-year histories.
But Strictly’s first live show in September saw its ratings plummet as the BBC show recorded a loss of one million viewers, a drop from 7.3million in last year to just 6.7million this year.
A massive 9million viewers tuned in for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! return this week to ITV making it the number one entertainment show of 2024 on any channel so far; pictured Ant and Dec
Strictly and I’m A Celeb have been in a ratings battle throughout their 20-year histories but Strictly’s first live show in September saw its ratings plummet from 7.3million in last year to just 6.7million this year; pictured Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman
Despite Strictly’s rating increasing to 8.1million for the results show in Blackpool last week, it is still just under one million short from the I’m A Celeb launch night which took place on the same day.
ITV are thrilled by the rating figures and an ITV insider told The Mail: ‘All they care about is beating Strictly this year. That’s their number one goal.
‘If they do that, they’ll be happy. And, of course, getting more viewers than last year, but that’s been the same every time.’
The source continued: ‘GK Barry is considered this year’s secret weapon, there’s hope all around that she will bring in a whole new younger audience for the show and hike up the viewing figures.’
The new series of I’m A Celebrity kicked off on Sunday night, with Coleen Rooney, Danny Jones, Tulisa, Jane Moore, Dean McCullough, and Oti Mabuse skydiving into camp.
Meanwhile, Barry McGuigan, GK Barry, Alan Halsall, Coleen, and Melvin Odoom waited at the beach for the other five campmates to join them before taking on a boat challenge.
And just as the campmates have been settling in, Love Island bombshell Maura Higgins is to make a huge arrival alongside Revered Richard Coles.
Maura turned Love Island upside down in 2019 as a bombshell contestant and her unfiltered fiery antics led to that year being the most-watched series in the show’s history.
The launch episode of I’m A Celebrity, which saw Coleen Rooney , Oti Mabuse and Danny Jones enter the jungle, has already beaten all episodes of Strictly Come Dancing so far this year; pictured Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Despite Strictly’s rating increasing to 8.1million for the results show in Blackpool last week, it is still just under one million short from the I’m A Celeb launch night which took place on the same day; pictured Coleen Rooney
An ITV insider told The Mail: ‘All they care about is beating Strictly this year. That’s their number one goal. If they do that, they’ll be happy. And, of course, getting more viewers than last year, but that’s been the same every time’
And just as the campmates have been settling in, Love Island bombshell Maura Higgins is to make a huge arrival alongside Revered Richard Coles
Now as she makes a late arrival tonight and warns viewers, ‘You’re not ready,’ even more viewers could be tuning into the ITV show.
A TV source told MailOnline: ‘At the beginning, everyone thought it was going to be Coleen or GK Barry that was the hook for this series, but it appears it’s going to be Maura.
‘She’s got that perfect ‘second wave’ energy and it’s so funny she’s coming in with a Reverend, it’s going to be amazing.
‘Firecracker energy is what’s needed in the camp right now as they all seem to be getting on a bit too well…
‘There are a lot of strong women in there so the race for Queen of the Jungle is going to be a tough one, especially now that she’s [Maura] in the mix.’
I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP
OTI MABUSE
Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: Professional dancer
FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.
DANNY JONES
Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: McFly singer
FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.
He is also a coach on The Voice UK.
BARRY MCGUIGAN
Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer
FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986.
GK BARRY
GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: TikTok star
FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.
DEAN MCCULLOUGH
ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp
AGE: 32
OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ
FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.
Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.
JANE MOORE
Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: Journalist
FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.
She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.
Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.
MELVIN ODOOM
Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021
AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter
FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.
He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.
COLEEN ROONEY
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: WAG
FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.
ALAN HALSALL
Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street
AGE: 42
OCCUPATION: Actor
FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.
Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.
TULISA
Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year
AGE: 36
OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge
FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.
In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss.
She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.
