I adore I’m a Celeb but the Unpacked spin-off doesn’t work at all – here’s what needs to change if it returns
I REALLY hate the fact that I am writing this because I so wanted the I’m A Celeb spin-off to work.
When bosses decided to axe the original companion show, Extra Camp, I was utterly devastated.
I was previously a regular part of the infamously raucous audience in Big Brother‘s Bit On The Side.
To be invited back on that show was a privilege but more than anything, I appreciate the value of spin-off shows.
They are a good way for programmes to release news and exclusives on their terms and I saw Rylan Clark and Emma Willis close up on a weekly basis.
Some of the content these panel shows air on-screen is also a great way to get a behind-the-scenes look in a structured and safe way.
But I just don’t think that I’m A Celebrity: Unpacked did that for me this year.
I wanted to feel Jungle fever, but instead I didn’t even feel lightly flushed.
Ok, that maybe a lie, because I did feel the flushed tones of the presenters as they desperately tried to add some sort of flavour to the programme.
I also don’t entirely want to criticise the presenters either because each of them are amazing broadcasters for different reasons.
Joel Dommett is an ITV favourite and we all LOVE his work on The Masked Singer and it’s clear why.
Having finished as the runner-up in the 16th edition of I’m A Celebrity back in 2016, his connection to the programme is clear.
When he presented Extra Camp with Joe Swash and Scarlett Moffatt, the programme was brilliant.
Emily Atack and Adam Thomas joined him for the 2019 series of the spin-off and it still appeared to be of a very high standard.
Like most people on TV today, he might not be every person’s cup of tea, but he is definitely suited to an ITV2 audience.
But this year, something just felt off.
Joel Dommett's career so far
Joel started out as an actor, landing small roles in shows including Casualty, Inspector Lynley and Skins.
But the funnyman has also presented or taken part in other big shows, such as:
I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (2016 – runner up)
I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp (2017-2019)
Celebrity Juice (2018-2022)
Hey Tracey! (2019-2020)
The Masked Singer (2020-present)
The Masked Dancer (2021-present)
In With a Shout (2023-present)
We all loved Sam Thompson in the jungle last year when he brightened up camp with his infectious energy and his banter with Tony Bellew.
Apart from a few minor blips with A-list interviews on social media, he’s also proven himself to be a very solid broadcaster.
But the studio atmosphere with him and Joel just does not work at all as it feels both these lads are almost unintentionally fighting for the same presenting role.
They are both funny, both witty, and both infectious. But I fear there is not room in the studio for the pair of them together.
I wanted to feel Jungle fever, but instead I didn’t even feel lightly flushed.
Sam is at his best when he is giving viewers a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the Bushtucker Trial clearing.
The former Made in Chelsea star shines when he uses his own personal experience to give an insightful hot take on what the celebs can expect.
I think if they don’t use Sam in the studio and make him either a full time roving reporter that would be a better use of his talents.
If they wanted him in the studio, producers could get him by a big plasma screen going through hilarious social media reactions.
I'm A Celebrity 2024
i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year..
Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
Tulisa – The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year’s I’m A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
Alan Halsall – The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities.
Melvin Odoom – The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet – the Aussie jungle.
GK Barry – The UK’s biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
Dean McCullough – A rising star amongst this year’s bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
Oti Mabuse – The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Danny Jones – The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he’s now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom Fletcher.
Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge – having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane’s first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
Barry McGuigan – Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: “She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache.”
Maura Higgins – The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
Rev. Richard Coles – Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity, and he’s ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: “Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth.”
Or they could give him a seperate area for a different personal segment he could really make his own.
Bosses need to properly define his role on the show, because the dynamics as they are do not make the stars look the best that they could be.
I think having him AND Joel as equal co-presenters also distracts from the dedicated weekly jungle guest ITV execs fly out.
Will Best and Ruth Langsford are great star bookings, but their showbiz commentary was drowned out by the dynamics.
Making Sam Thompson a full-time roving reporter would be better
Then there’s the question of Kemi Rodgers, and it’s a real shame because she is a very capable and talented presenter.
She has an established fanbase as the host of the mid-morning show on Capital Radio.
Her links to camera are clear and concise and she definitely has potential to be one of the country’s mainstay TV faces of the future.
But aside from another gig, she has no obvious connection to the programme like Sam and Joel do as former campmates.
When the likes of Vicky Pattison, Scarlett, and Emily fronted the show, they were all former campmates.
Their connection to the jungle was genuine and unfortunately this is something that Kemi does not have, no matter how talented she is.
I would love to see her actually go into the jungle next year and then return to the spin-off two years down the line, to be welcomed back with open arms.
The spin-off series is a fantastic idea, but like camp every year, a little refurb would not go amiss.
All the episodes from the 2024 series of I’m A Celebrity are available to watch back on ITVX.