I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! finally returns this weekend, with 12 more famous faces about to endure a hellish three weeks sleeping in the Australian jungle from Sunday, November 16.
Kelly Brook, Jack Osbourne, Lisa Riley and Martin Kemp are among the biggest names expected to give up their lives of luxury and all their home comforts, and live by an utterly bizarre rulebook.
Obviously, we know they don’t get contact from home, can’t communicate with the outside world and can’t sneak in any contraband – we’re looking at you and your illegal teabags, Dean McCullough.
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But did you know campmates can only pack three pairs of underwear and are never allowed to know the time?
If the new line-up didn’t know the rules before, they probably do now – and if this list of completely bonkers regulations is anything to go by, they might already be regretting signing on the dotted line.
ITV/REX/Shutterstock
1. Red socks must be worn at all times
The red trousers are obviously a uniform, but socks? Those garish red numbers aren’t just an ill-judged fashion accessory – they’re actually an essential piece of jungle gear for a particularly gnarly reason.
The show’s former on-site medic, Bob McCarron, previously revealed that campmates are more than likely to be bitten by bugs and leeches, so the red socks disguise the inevitable bleeding that could put some viewers off watching. Grim!
2. Speaking of socks… you can only pack one pair and three pairs of underwear
When Marvin Humes was in the jungle back in 2023, his wife Rochelle Humes shared another bizarre bombshell during an episode of This Morning.
She revealed Marvin was only allowed to pack one pair of socks and three pairs of underwear, with the celebs responsible for cleaning them as much as possible.
Although, Marvin should consider himself lucky – in the first series they had just one pair of pants for their entire stay.
ITV
3. What if the campmates are smokers?
Campmates’ underwear might be severely limited, but surprisingly they do have a generous supply of cigarettes and vapes, should they be that way inclined.
Smokers are allowed to smoke as much as they wish, but vapers must bring a prescription from a doctor with them to Australia if they want that strawberry-kiwi blast Down Under. Unlike in the UK, where vapes are readily available in most newsagents and supermarkets, Aussies can only buy them from pharmacies.
All smoking and vaping must now be done off-camera, despite former campmates once being encouraged to smoke by the fire and put their cigs out in the flames.
4. No make-up allowed
Not that many of them need it – Myleene Klass still looked fresher than most of us every morning without make-up. But all cosmetics, including skincare, are banned in the jungle because they’re not classed as essential items.
Former beauty pageant queen Amy Willerton managed to sneak a concealer into camp in 2013 but felt the wrath of producers when they threatened to cut meals to camp – which didn’t go down well with her fellow castmates.
Hugo Taylor I’m A Celebrity
5. Deodorant is an exception
Campmates can look dishevelled, but ITV wouldn’t want them to start smelling.
Deodorant was banned in the first season of I’m A Celeb, but apparently some contestants who we shall not name for reasons of decorum smelled so bad the crew insisted deodorant be allowed from then on. We’re not uggesting Hugo Taylor (above) was one of them – he is fragrant as all hell – we just thought it would be funny to imply that he’s just smelled someone else.
6. Skinny jabs get the green light
The stars have always been able to take prescription medication with them into the jungle for obvious reasons, but a new rule also permits the use of weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic. (Presumably as long as it’s been prescribed by a GP, as per UK law.)
Many celebrities shed an alarming amount of body weight in the jungle anyway, but ITV has spoken – skinny jabs are officially allowed.
7. The cast can never know the time
This rule is one of the strangest – and it isn’t unique to I’m A Celebrity. The cast of The Celebrity Traitors also kicked off over this very same rule, and producers eventually caved.
But in the jungle, it’s taken seriously.
When cast members are summoned for a Bushtucker Trial, Ant, Dec and the entire crew on-site have their watches covered so the suffering stars can’t even catch a glimpse of the time.
ITV / Rex / Shutterstock
8. The grim reason women are encouraged to shower more than men
Obviously, every campmate is advised to shower daily, even if it’s just to pass the time. But former on-site medic Bob also explained that the shower isn’t just to spare your campmates from the smell.
In an episode of Extra Camp, he said: “Most people think of fungus as mushrooms, but we have problems with the cast every year – especially women growing fungus on certain body parts.
“I’ve been instructing them to use the shower and personal hygiene a little bit more often.”
9. There’s a reason Gemma Collins lasted three days
No matter who you are, every celebrity is contracted to last at least three days in the jungle. Few stars have actually packed their bags and left of their own accord (Malcolm McClaren memorably shied at the first hurdle before even leaving the hotel) but they do have an incentive to stay even if they suddenly realise they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.
If they want their fee – which can reach up to £1.5 million if you’re Coleen Rooney – then they’ve got to give the public what they want for at least three days. And if you’re the most famous WAG in the world that’s not a Spice Girl, that’s reportedly a cool £500,000 a day.
I’m A Celebrity Get Me out of Here returns on ITV and ITVX on Sunday 16 Nov.
The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Ariana & Witches in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.