I’m a Celebrity: Fans livid after realising Saturday episode was recap rather than live
The 20th season of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has proved a hit with viewers, prompting a resurgence of interest in the hit ITV reality show.
With the series having relocated from Australia to Gwrych Castle, Wales as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, its roster of celebrity contestants face a whole new set of challenges.
However, many fans were disappointed to discover that the latest episode of the series, which aired on Saturday night (21 November), was a catch-up episode comprised of seen and unseen clips from the first week of the show.
“We’re actually at home, watching the show with the rest of you”, revealed Ant and Dec, in a pre-recorded segment kicking off the episode.
Many I’m a Celebrity fans were unaware of the change, and had been looking forward to watching the campmates undertake a new trial.
Read more: Inside the ‘haunted’ castle where I’m a Celebrity is filmed
“Can’t believe tonight’s @imacelebrity is a catch up show!” wrote one viewer on Twitter. “Absolutely gutting.”
“I want live trials every day,” wrote someone else. “They’re so much better #imaceleb”
Recap episode? Switching off, disappointed #imaceleb
— Kim Horsley (@KimHorsley3) November 21, 2020
Can’t believe tonight’s @imacelebrity is a catch up show! Absolutely gutting #ImACeleb
— sɯɐıןןıM uɐᗡ (@Williams_Dan10) November 21, 2020
Me finding out that the I’m a celebrity is a recap show #ImACeleb #antanddec @antanddec pic.twitter.com/j2uVzeRm8e
— Sam Farrell (@samfarrell2) November 21, 2020
While the episode would feature some previously unaired footage, some fans were unimpressed by the repeat of clips that had already featured in past episodes.
“Surely they could have found some footage or something to show us tonight... we've seen all this,” wrote one viewer.
Read more: How much do the contestants on I’m a Celebrity earn?
“Why are we getting this @ImACelebrity recap only 6 days in, instead of a live show?” asked someone else. “Talk about a time filler.”
Another accused the series of “scraping the barrel”.
New episodes of I’m a Celebrity air nightly on ITV at 9pm.