I’m a Celebrity… South Africa is heading towards its final stretch, with five contestants battling it out to be crowned this season’s legend. The All Stars series is ending with a major and history-making format change.
ITV surprised viewers of the hit competition by confirming that the finale will air this Friday 24 April despite the series itself having pre-recorded months earlier. Filming took place in South Africa in late 2025, with all returning contestants entering camp in November.
In the past, the spin-off format has leaned heavily on the famous campmates themselves, with contestants deciding everything from trials to eliminations. The previous South Africa series followed this structure, culminating in a head-to-head Bushtucker Trial that saw series 6 runner-up Myleene Klass crowned the show’s first-ever legend after defeating Jordan Banjo. This year, however, ITV is switching things up.
ITV
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In a first for the spin-off, hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly revealed that the final result will be decided by the public, bringing a live voting element into a series that has, otherwise, remained pre-recorded.
The I’m A Celebrity final will take place in front of a live audience at Versa Studios in London, marking a clear shift away from the usual format. Airing in two parts, the finale’s first instalment will run from 7.30pm to 9pm, revisiting the finalists’ last trials in South Africa, alongside live segments in London.
Viewers will then be given one hour to vote for their favourite campmate via the I’m A Celebrity mobile app. The winner will then be revealed in the second part of the finale, airing from 10pm to 10.30pm, and they will be able to gift their cash prize of £100k to the charity of their choice.
Speaking of the upcoming final, Dec said: “Myleene Klass won it in South Africa last time, doing the best final head-to-head, Bushtucker trial thing we’ve ever seen. So we thought, ‘we want to leave it up to the public,’ but to get to that point, to be a finalist, we’ve made it tougher than ever.”
ITV
The run-up to the finale has already been marked by several dramatic exits. During Wednesday’s (22 April) episode of the hit competition, singer Sinitta chose to leave the competition midway through a trial, adding to an already eventful week at camp.
Earlier in the week, former footballer Jimmy Bullard also threw in the towel under controversial circumstances. During the show’s Rancid Run, where each contestant was paired with another campmate, Jimmy withdrew in the middle of the challenge, leaving Adam Thomas stranded and furious.
The moment sparked a heated argument between the two, with the Waterloo Road star throwing the blame on Jimmy for jeopardising his chances in the game. Jimmy then explained that Gemma Collins’ recent elimination alongside David Haye had impacted his determination to win the show, before adding that a family emergency – his father’s ill health – had contributed to his decision.
ITV
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Since then, reports have claimed that, despite attempts from production to end the feud, Jimmy and Adam are no longer in speaking terms and Jimmy was thought to be snubbing I’m A Celebrity’s live finale. Off-screen, however, Jimmy has hinted that there may be more to the story via a post on Instagram as he vowed to reveal further details about his exit during Friday’s live show.
With tensions simmering and several unresolved moments still hanging over the series, the live finale is expected to offer more than just a winner – it could also serve as an opportunity to set the record straight.
Still, the final decision will rest with the public only, bringing the all-star experiment to a close in a way the franchise has never attempted before.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa will air its series finale on Friday 24 April at 7.30pm on ITV1.
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