On the most recent series of Survivor in the US (yes, they're still doing survivor in the US), the producer, Mark Burnett, decided the format needed livening up and split the contestants into warring factions on race grounds.
It was a bold, many said foolhardy, innovation that lasted just a few unbelievably inflammatory episodes by all accounts before being abandoned as an experiment too far in uncomfortable truths.
Less the better said, perhaps, about what would happen were ITV to try that with I'm A Celebrity - the voting patterns of mainstream audiences have been discussed elsewhere. Instead, they've plumped for the Battle of the Sexes. Because that can always tell us something new.
Last night then, we learned that women are bitchy and men aren't, that Jan Leeming is "not a woman's woman" and that in a fight between a Scouse girl and a camp fashion designer, never bet against the scally. Amazingly, though, the producers did manage to hit upon a scenario that would make Lauren Booth appear to be the voice of reason.
My main concern isn't really the retreading of some of the cliches of 70s stand-up comedy. I'm only worried that this may result in less screen time for David Gest. Tricks in long running formats are generally a smokescreen for bad casting (see Big Brother). I wouldn't have thought that this line-up required it - they're plenty screwy enough to entertain when they're trying to get along.
Still if the removal of the ladies from base camp allows David and Jason (Donovan) more room to develop their captivating relationship, then it's all fine by me. And if the men turn feral and spit roast that pillock fashion designer, we can surely all join in declaring a divided society the future.
Though why they didn't take Survivors' idea to its logical conclusion and make all the women wear a hijab and nipple tassles is beyond me...
