Turns out the jungle may have had one last trick up its sleeve before Network 10 pulled the plug on the long running reality series, as exclusively revealed by TV Blackbox.
Brendan Fevola has revealed ITV Studios Australia approached him earlier this year about returning for an all stars edition of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia, before the format was officially rested by the broadcaster for 2027.
Speaking on Melbourne’s The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick on Monday morning, the former AFL star said producers were exploring a “winners” season featuring returning champions from across the show’s 12 season run.
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Listen to the chat in the player HERE.
The revelation comes after TV Blackbox exclusively reported earlier this month, and was later confirmed, that Paramount Australia had axed the series, with ITV Studios Australia now shopping the format to rival broadcasters.
Fevola, who won the second season back in 2016, joked he may have developed a “Fev curse” after appearing on several shows that were later axed, including The Footy Show, The Masked Singer Australia and The Amazing Race Australia.
While he admitted he turned down the approach due to his radio commitments, Fevola suggested ITV remained hopeful the franchise could continue elsewhere despite Network 10 shelving the series
“They reckon Channel Seven or Channel Nine will take it. It might be onto another station… the ITV people rang so I assume it’s still going ahead.”
Fevola also pointed to the success of the UK’s recent all stars version, claiming it delivered “four times the audience”, while admitting he ultimately knocked back the offer because of his morning radio commitments.
News that an all stars version was being explored comes after a turbulent season for the costly jungle format, with production changes aimed at cutting expenses, including moving away from the live format filmed in South Africa.
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The shifts didn’t go unnoticed, with the loss of live audience interaction and prerecorded episodes coinciding with softer ratings across the season, before 10 eventually confirming the show would not return to the network in 2027.
ITV Studios Australia CEO and former Network 10 executive David Mott last week told TV Blackbox in a statement that the company remained confident in the franchise’s future, confirming it was actively taking the format to market.
Could another broadcaster rescue I’m A Celebrity from the reality TV graveyard? If Fev’s right, the jungle camp may not be closed for good.
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