The nation’s favourite duo Ant and Dec are back on our screens hosting the new series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here. The 13thseries demonstrates the usual structure of washed-up celebrities being thrown into the Australian ‘jungle’ with only the bare necessities, and forced to battle it out for the title of King or Queen. Although there is the odd ‘has-been’ star in the jungle this year, there are also some real talents such as Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Adlington and Westlife’s Kian Egan. And then there’s Joey Essex.
He can’t tell the time. He can’t blow his nose. He thinks cabbage and lettuce are the same thing and he thinks ‘confrontate’ is an actual word. But this simple-minded guy from TOWIE is going far in the competition. He has been voted to complete the majority of the trials so far this series, and it’s obvious that it’s because the viewers love him. His hilarious, mid-trial outbursts even have Ant and Dec stifling giggles, and his lack of knowledge on pretty much everything makes for TV gold. There also seems to be a blossoming romance between him and Miss Universe contestant Amy Willerton. The snuggling, the shower scenes and the post-trial massages ooze sexual tension, and keeping him in the competition will only allow for this love story to develop.
As for the other contestants’ input in the camp, it’s all just a little too bland. Aside from Joey’s brainless anecdotes, all that’s left to entertain us is arguments about washing up and cooking, and even these aren’t that frequent. Let’s hope for the sake of the show that Joey does get to stay until the end, otherwise I can predict a serious fall in ratings.
Watch I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on ITV, weeknights at 9pm
Laura Chisholm
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