I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! was forced into an unexpected shutdown after a fierce thunderstorm swept across camp, prompting producers to evacuate all 12 contestants.
The stars, including Kelly Brook, rapper Aitch, ex Lioness Alex Scott and presenter Vogue Williams, were moved into the Bush Telegraph for around an hour as torrential rain and hail hammered the site.
Filming was paused for three hours while crews dealt with the fallout from the sudden weather surge in Dungay, New South Wales, where around 50mm of rain fell in two hours.
Once the storm eased, campmates returned to find soaked bedding and towels, which they tried to dry around the fire before some headed off to film Monday night’s Bushtucker Trial.
“The camp was drenched and the storm caused filming issues, but everything is fine now,” a show insider told The Sun.
Meanwhile a source told The Standard: “Our health and safety weather contingencies kicked in and we evacuated the celebrities immediately to the Bush Telegraph until the storm passed and it was safe to return to camp.”
Downpours of this scale can trigger blood-sucking leeches, which thrive in the wet conditions, while small creeks around camp are known to surge from “a trickle to a torrent” within minutes.
The hit ITV series is no stranger to extreme weather.
A thunderstorm struck the jungle site even before this year’s launch, forcing producers to reinforce areas of the set.
A source told The Sun previously: “Never underestimate the Gold Coast weather – it can go from 30C heat to biblical storms in minutes.”
Last year’s series was hit by record rainfall, with 114.5mm falling in just 24 hours and campmates evacuated twice.
Flooding also tore up part of the set and blocked access roads, causing delays — including a one-hour setback to a Bushtucker Trial.
Speaking about one evacuation, McFly‘s Danny Jones, who won the 2024 series, recalled: “It was one of the hardest nights.
“We were all quite cramped and I think there were still 12 of us then as well, all boiling-hot in close proximity.
“The rain also meant the leeches were searching for you and I was literally on leech check every day.”
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! airs every night at 9pm on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player
