I'm A Celebrity South Africa: Fans confused as new series begins

I'm A Celebrity... South Africa viewers were left confused by the new series - because the theme tune had many getting in the Christmas spirit.

The ITV reality show has brought back former celebrity contestants - including Carol Vorderman, Paul Burrell and Shaun Ryder - to compete for the title of I'm A Celebrity Legend, but fans are used to seeing the series air in late November.

Watching hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly setting creepy crawly trials for the celebs, many viewers felt disorientated that it is only April.

Read more: I'm A Celebrity South Africa: Janice Dickinson bonds with Shaun Ryder and Paul Burrell

One tweeted: "#ImACeleb is on ...This means I'm going to be wanting to put my Christmas decorations up tomorrow."

Another said: "#ImACeleb has completely thrown me off guard. Feels like Christmas is in a couple of weeks."

And another viewer shared: "Watching #ImACeleb in april just feels so wrong my brain thinks it’s time to be getting the christmas tree out."

The first episode saw dietician Gillian McKeith surprise the other campmates as a late arrival to the camp, just as they were getting settled.

Happy Mondays star Ryder was an original campmate of McKeith's in 2010 and they clashed in the Australian jungle.

The singer was not pleased to see her arrive, saying: "Gillian arrived in a box, she should have stayed in the box."

TV critics have been underwhelmed by the pre-recorded spin-off of the ITV reality show.

Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian said: "The show is missing a spark. The lack of a public vote and no public interaction makes such a difference... It’s still I’m a Celebrity, and if you like it, you’ll still like it. But, legends or otherwise, this is not the show at its best."

Sean O'Grady of The Independent writes: "Even the breathtaking scenery and thumping incidental music can’t mitigate the sense that everyone’s just going through the motions again."

And Anita Singh of The Telegraph felt: "It’s a reliable ratings-winner for ITV, but the line-up is too steady. The sense of jeopardy is lower than usual because everyone knows what they’re doing."

Read more: All the I'm A Celebrity winners so far

Also returning are Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan, Olympic athlete Fatima Whitbread, retired cricketer Phil Tufnell along with American model Janice Dickinson, Diversity dancer Jordan Banjo and boxer Amir Khan.

I'm A Celebrity... South Africa continues on ITV at 9pm.

Watch: Scarlett Moffatt and Seann Walsh are fronting an I'm A Celebrity South Africa podcast