🎉JUNGLE CHAOS RETURNS! Ant & Dec are BACK hosting I’m A Celebrity All-Stars in scorching South Africa for 2026 – with BRUTAL new trials, live final vote and explosive rumoured line-up that will have you screaming ‘Get Me Out Of Here!’
Hold onto your khakis, folks – the jungle is about to get a whole lot wilder!
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the undisputed kings of primetime telly, are officially returning to host the hotly-anticipated second series of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa All-Stars in 2026, and it’s set to be an absolute scorcher.
ITV bosses have confirmed the Geordie duo will once again be at the helm, dishing out devilish trials and cheeky banter amid the stunning – and seriously dangerous – South African bush.
Forget the rainy Aussie outback; this spin-off is all about the relentless heat, terrifying wildlife and brand-new challenges that even Ant and Dec are calling “truly epic… even by I’m A Celeb standards!”
The dynamic duo broke the bombshell news themselves in a hilarious Instagram video back in September 2025, with Dec quipping that the show only comes around “every three years – like all the best events!”
Ant beamed: “Coming to ITV in 2026 is the return of I’m A Celebrity South Africa! This time there’s a massive twist because the finale will be live from the UK, and YOU at home will pick the winner.”
That’s right – in a game-changing move, the public will crown the ultimate I’m A Celebrity Legend in a glamorous live grand final beamed straight from London.
No more pre-recorded endings; viewers will have the final say after weeks of camp rows, redemption arcs and stomach-churning Bush Tucker Trials.
Ant gushed: “The campmates really brought their A-game to the first series, so we can’t wait to be back for more trials, challenges and surprises amongst the beautiful South African landscape.”
Dec added with a wicked grin: “The new trials are truly epic – trust us, they’re going to push these legends to breaking point!”
The first All-Stars series in 2023 was a ratings smash, pulling in over five million viewers as iconic former stars like Carol Vorderman, Amir Khan and Gillian McKeith battled it out.
But it was Myleene Klass who emerged triumphant, finally claiming her crown after that infamous white bikini moment in 2006. The Hear’Say singer turned presenter powered through vile eating challenges to beat Jordan Banjo and become the inaugural Legend.
Now, three years later, a new batch of jungle veterans are heading back for revenge, glory or just to prove they can hack it second time around.
Filming wrapped secretly in the Kruger National Park back in September 2025, and whispers from the set suggest this series is tougher than ever – with extreme heat, closer encounters with lions and elephants, and trials involving underground tunnels crawling with critters.
While ITV is playing coy on the official line-up (expected to drop closer to the May 2026 airdate), rumours are rife – and the leaked names are pure gold.
Top of the list is Gemma ‘The GC’ Collins, the TOWIE diva who infamously quit the Aussie jungle after just 72 hours in 2014, wailing: “This place is hell!”
At 44, Gemma is reportedly desperate for redemption, ready to unleash her larger-than-life drama on campmates. One insider spilled: “Gemma’s return would be explosive – imagine the tantrums in 40-degree heat!”
Football legend Harry Redknapp, the hilarious 2018 King of the Jungle with his sandwich tales, is tipped to return at 78. Will the grandad charm offensive work again, or will the brutal South African conditions prove too much?
Olympic hero Sir Mo Farah, who struggled with trials in 2021, is said to be back for another crack. The four-time gold medallist could finally go the distance – or flop spectacularly.
Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts (2012), comedian Seann Walsh (2022), Gogglebox winner Scarlett Moffatt (2016 champ), and heavyweight boxer David Haye (2012) are all heavily rumoured.
Soap favourites like Emmerdale’s Adam Thomas, Corrie icon Beverley Callard, 80s pop star Sinitta, Red Dwarf’s Craig Charles, and controversial footballer Jimmy Bullard (who faced bullying claims in 2014) complete the alleged star-studded dozen.
A source told The Sun: “This cast is packed with unfinished business – winners defending titles, quitters seeking revenge, and underrated gems ready to shine. With Ant and Dec whipping up the chaos, it’s going to be unmissable.”
And those trials? Forget standard stars-in-boxes – South Africa’s vast terrain means abseiling ravines, plunging into bug-infested pits, and facing off with real wildlife.
Ant and Dec have teased they’re “a lot harder” than Aussie ones, with Dec warning: “Even we’re shocked – these are next level!”
Camp life sounds grim too: basic rations, freezing nights despite daytime scorchers, and constant roars from nearby predators.
No luxury hammocks here – just raw survival in one of the world’s most breathtaking but brutal spots.
Fans are already losing it online. One tweeted: “Ant & Dec back in South Africa? Gemma vs Harry? Live vote? This is going to BREAK the internet!”
Another fumed: “Mo Farah eating fermented eggs again? Take my money NOW!”
A third declared: “Myleene set the Legend bar sky-high – who’s topping that in 2026?”
After fears the format might be axed post-2023, huge demand brought it roaring back. The original I’m A Celebrity remains ITV’s monster hit, but South Africa offers pure nostalgia – no rookies, just seasoned pros who know the horrors awaiting.
With filming done, all the meltdowns, hook-ups and heroic moments are in the can. We’ll see the fireworks unfold nightly on ITV1 and ITVX from May 2026.
Who’ll scream first? Who’ll quit? And who’ll you vote as the ultimate Legend?
One thing’s certain: With Ant and Dec leading the mayhem in the magnificent South African wilderness, this All-Stars clash will be legendary telly chaos.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa returns to ITV1 and ITVX in May 2026.
