Quick Read
- The second series of I’m A Celebrity South Africa premieres April 6, 2026, at 9pm on ITV1.
- The show features a new live grand final where the public will vote to decide the winner.
- Returning contestants include Harry Redknapp, Gemma Collins, and Mo Farah, facing significantly harder trials than in previous years.
LONDON (Azat TV) – The South African wilderness is set to host a high-stakes return for I’m A Celebrity… as the second all-star series premieres on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 9pm on ITV1. While the series has been pre-recorded to capture the intensity of the landscape, ITV has introduced a significant shift in format: a live grand final broadcast from London, where the public will hold the power to crown the ultimate ‘IAC Legend 2026.’
New Stakes for Returning Campmates
This year’s cohort features a lineup of familiar faces returning to prove their endurance, including former football manager Harry Redknapp, reality star Gemma Collins, Olympian Sir Mo Farah, and actor Adam Thomas. They are joined by Ashley Roberts, David Haye, Seann Walsh, Sinitta, Craig Charles, Jimmy Bullard, Scarlett Moffatt, and Beverley Callard. Unlike previous iterations, producers have signaled that the challenges are designed to be more extreme than those encountered in the Australian jungle, with the added pressure of the public vote looming over the final outcome.
The Dynamic of the 2026 All-Star Cast
Behind-the-scenes reports suggest the chemistry among the returnees is volatile. Redknapp, who won the show in 2018, reportedly engaged in high-stakes pranking that nearly prompted early exits from both Collins and Sinitta. Despite the initial tension, producers have expressed confidence in the group’s resilience. Collins, who famously departed early during her initial appearance in 2014, is expected to be a focal point of the series as she confronts challenges that test her resolve in a way that differs from her previous experience.
Format Evolution and Viewer Engagement
The decision to hold a live final for a pre-recorded series represents a strategic pivot for ITV, aimed at maintaining viewer engagement through real-time participation. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly will return as hosts, overseeing the transition from the recorded trials to the final public vote. Complementing the main broadcast, the I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked vodcast, hosted by Sam Thompson and Kemi Rodgers, will offer behind-the-scenes analysis, with a live companion show airing on ITV2 and ITVX immediately following the finale.
The introduction of a live public vote for the 2026 series marks a distinct departure from the traditional pre-recorded format of the South African spin-off, effectively merging the unpredictability of live television with the production value of the wilderness setting to ensure the winner reflects current audience sentiment rather than past performance alone.