Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

I’m a Celebrity live: Dean McCullough emerges as fan favourite after ‘hilarious’ Coleen Rooney joke

McFly star Danny Jones found himself in a precarious position during the launch episode after two snake found their way into his shorts during a tense challenge

Annabel Nugent,Lydia Spencer-Elliott
Sunday 17 November 2024 19:06 EST
Comments
I’m a Celebrity Dean McCullough makes 'hilarious' Wagatha Christie joke meeting Coleen Rooney

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The 2024 cast of I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! have not had an easy start, with tonight’s launch episode landing them right in the action.

Among this year’s contestants are N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos, Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall and Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse. Others joining them are Coleen Rooney, McFly singer Danny Jones, and boxer Barry McGuigan.

The first episode of the season saw the cast take part in a series of challenges, with Tulisa and Halsall emerging victorious after a heated race involcing cockroaches, capsized canoes, and blended fish eye cocktails

Fans singled out Dean McCullough as an early favourite after the BBC Radio 1 presenter made a “hilarious” joke about fellow campmate Coleen Rooney’s “Wagatha Christie” trial.

In the first vote of the season, viewers have selected GK Barry to take part in the next episode’s Vile Volcano challenge.

New episodes of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! airs on ITV1 and ITVX every night, typically at 9pm.

How much are contestants being paid?

I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2024will feature the ITV show’s highest-paid star yet.

The reality TV juggernaut has been a fixture on screens since 2002 and, over the years, the amount of money paid to the participating contestants has exponentially increased.

This gap has widened even more in the last four years alone, with Noel Edmonds, the one-time highest-paid star, receiving £600,000 for what ended up being just one week in the jungle in 2019.

Read more below:

How much are I’m a Celebrity 2024 contestants being paid

This year’s cast includes highest-paid star in ITV show’s 22-year-history

Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 19:30

Coleen Rooney reveals ‘secret code’ she’ll use to communicate with her sons from the jungle

Coleen Rooney has a plan to secretly communicate with her sons while she’s in the I’m a Celeb jungle.

The TV personality shares her four children; Kai, 13, Klay, 10, Kit, seven, and Cass, five, with her husband and former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Speaking to The Sun, an insider said Rooney would touch her personalised necklace with her four children’s names on them to let the boys know she’s thinking about them.

“The hardest thing for Coleen will be being away from her sons so she wants them to know they are on her mind,” they said. “It’s the first time she has left them for any period of time.”

Coleen and Wayne Rooney with their sons Cass, Kit, Klay and Kai
Coleen and Wayne Rooney with their sons Cass, Kit, Klay and Kai (Getty Images)
Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 18:30

Why contestant Tulisa Contostavlos left the spotlight after The X Factor

I’m a Celeb contestant Tulisa Contostavlos enjoyed a successful music career as part of the hip hop trio N-Dubz, who are known for their hits including “I Need You” and “Ouch”.

After the group’s third platinum album was released in 2010, the singer secured a coveted seat on the judging panel of ITV’s The X Factor alongside Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, and Kelly Rowland. She won her first season with the girl group Little Mix and the public attention on her intensified.

After the talent show series, Contostavlos slowed her showbiz career and retreated from the public eye following a string of scandals, which ended in a court case against her.

Read more below:

Why I’m a Celebrity 2024 contestant Tulisa left the spotlight after The X Factor

The N-Dubz singer has faced several obstacles in the last 10 years

Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 17:30

Ruth Langsford signs up to I’m a Celebrity show after ‘tough’ Eamonn Holmes split

Ruth Langsford has secured a role on the new series ofI’m a Celebrity, months after separating from Eamonn Holmes.

The Loose Women and former This Morning presenter has endured a “tough year” but is set to shake that off after securing a key role in the ITV reality series.

Langsford will be in Australia to support her Loose Women co-star, who is entering the jungle, on ITV2 spin-off show I’m a Celebrity: Unpacked alongside hosts Joel Dommett, Kemi Rodgers and last year’s winner Sam Thompson.

Read more below:

Surprise star signs up to I’m a Celebrity show after ‘tough year’

Last-minute appointment comes after challenging year for presenter

Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 16:30

Ant and Dec announce I’m a Celebrity ‘curveball’

Ant and Dec announce I'm A Celebrity 'curveball'
Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 15:30

Preview: Details of the celebrities’ first challenge revealed

This year’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here will be off to a thrilling start.

Contestants will have to down a welcome drink of blended bull’s penis and fish eyes with a vomit fruit garnish, before sprinting across a sprawling estate to reach a helicopter.

Each celebrity will then have to complete a separate skydive as they race to reach and pair up with one of their fellow contestants who await them on a beach.

Winners of the first challenge will be titled first leaders of the camp, will be exempt from any chores and allowed to sleep in a lodge with mattresses, duvets and pillows.

They will also be able to make up all the rules for the Im A Celeb camp, a task which has caused tensions between campmates across previous series.

(ITV )
Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 14:30

Danny Jones weighs in on why he’s the favourite to win I’m a Celeb this year

Danny Jones has addressed the fact he’s the bookies’ favourite to be crowned King of the Jungle this year with odds 2-1.

When asked why he thinks he’s been dubbed the most likely to win I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! the singer told MailOnline: “Because McFly fans are awesome.”

Jones will follow in the footsteps of his bandmate Dougie Poynter who won the competition in 2011.

“I would definitely put all of your mortgage on me,” Jones joked. “I can only do my best for my son and my campmates, and of course, the fans.”

McFly’s Danny Jones on BBC’s Would I Lie To You?
McFly’s Danny Jones on BBC’s Would I Lie To You? (BBC / Zeppotron / Brian Ritch)
Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 13:30

Coleen Rooney admits she ‘barely sees’ footballer husband Wayne

Coleen Rooney has said she rarely spends time with her husband Wayne ahead of entering the I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! jungle.

When asked about facing a month away from her husband and children while she films the ITV programme in Australia, Rooney said the family are already distanced.

“Wayne comes back once a week, sometimes twice, depending on the fixtures,” she said. “Usually, he has Sunday off so he might come home.

“Time together is limited, more so than ever now because of the travelling and stuff.”

Read more below:

Coleen Rooney admits she ‘barely sees’ Wayne ahead of I’m A Celeb jungle

‘Time together is limited,’ the TV personality said 

Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 12:30

Sneak peek: I’m a Celeb cast meet on sunny beach for first time

Coleen Rooney, Alan Halsall, Melvin Odoom, GK Barry and Barry McGuigan have been pictured meeting for the first time on a beach before they head to the jungle.

The I’m a Celeb cast
The I’m a Celeb cast (ITV)
Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 02:00

The full I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2024 lineup

Find out everything you need to know about the 10 famous faces arriving in the jungle.

Meet the I’m a Celebrity 2024 lineup

Meet the full cast, including Coleen Rooney and N-Dubz’s Tulisa Contostavlos

Lydia Spencer-Elliott17 November 2024 01:00

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in