Ant and Dec in fresh blow as second huge TV series dropped from ITV

I'm A Celebrity South Africa will not be returning to our TV screens this year - despite it being a ratings hit with an all-star cast. The series saw popular celebrities from previous series of the main show return to camp, including Helen Flanagan, Joe Swash and Phil Tufnell.

But ITV has confirmed the series, hosted by Ant and Dec, will not be back. An ITV spokesperson confirmed: "I'm A Celebrity... South Africa was commissioned to air in 2023 to celebrate favourite campmates from the past 20 years as they returned to the jungle.

"The series was one of the biggest entertainment shows of the year averaging 5.2million across its consecutive weeknight run and reaching over one million 16-34s for the launch episode. It was never planned for the series to return again this year."

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Ant and Dec, along with the star-studded cast, jetted off to South Africa towards the end of 2022. However, the broadcast did not take place until April 2023.

Despite the high number of viewers, the show faced some backlash due to its pre-recorded nature which meant that viewers could not vote. In the dramatic finale, Myleene found herself up against Diversity's Jordan Banjo in a stomach-churning eating challenge.

She bravely tackled 60 mouse tails and 40 spoons of horrible tasting fermented tofu. Myleene emerged victorious over the 30 year old dancer.

In the series set in Kruger National Park, Olympian Fatima Whitbread, 62, secured third place and former cricketer Phil Tufnell, 57, came fourth.

Reflecting on her experience, Myleene commented: "The first time round, I wasn't a mum so there was no jeopardy if I ran around the jungle for a few weeks in a white bikini. I had a ball the first time.

"They say don't go back to an ex and don't go back to a reheated dinner. The jungle back in Australia gave me my family, gave me my work, gave me my career. I wanted to go to the bush as I wanted to say thank you for what the jungle has given me."