“Filming on board” (CC BY 2.0) by Capt’ Gorgeous
I’M A CELEBRITY, Get Me Out of Here! is the most successful and longest running British celebrity reality show ever, and has stood the test of time to become a hugely successful franchise. The winning formula for the show has led to spin-offs in a number of different countries and even a slot machine game. So how did it become so big?
The hosts, the former teen actors and joined-at-the-hip best friends Ant and Dec (Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly), have been a significant factor to the success of the show. The lovable Geordies have won the best TV presenters award at the National Television Awards for 15 consecutive years, beating the likes of Dermot O’Leary and Davina McCall in the process. These cheeky chaps from Newcastle have the perfect blend of charisma and comedy to attract celebrities to appear on the show, and keep viewers tuning in every year.
Who would sign up for this misery?
The celebrities are another important factor. Even though it’s hot and horrible, the charity (?) jungle expedition has tended to bring in a higher class of celebrity than other reality shows like “Celebrity Big Brother”. Sport buffoon Phil Tufnell, John Lydon (yes, formerly Johnny Rotten), George Takei, Martina Navratilova, dj Tony Blackburn, comedian Vic Reeves and writer Janet Street-Porter (look her up – how does she have a tv career?) have all ventured into the Australian outback to take part in the infamous Bush Tucker Trials, and the show usually manages to find the right mix of eclectic personalities to keep viewers entertained.
The Bush Tucker trials are perhaps the most enjoyable part of the formula, tucker meaning nasty edibles, and viewers can vote to put their desired C-lister through hell in some highly imaginative scenarios dreamed up by the producers. This winning set of factors has inspired some of the spin-offs of the show that have tried to emulate its success.
I’m a Celebrity gaming
Many pokies from 32red and other online casinos are based on TV shows, and it is an indication of a show’s popularity when it is immortalised in this format. The I’M A CELEBRITY slot machine game is available at a select number of sites, and is an ideal way for fans of the show to get their jungle fix between episodes. In the game, the mini feature involves collecting stars to win money, as the celebrities do in the show to win food. At 32red, new players receive a first time deposit bonus of $32 on every $10 deposited, and they can also play for free or with real money. Other sites have bonuses for new players- Dazzle Casino gives 25 free spins and Prime Slots offers players free bonus rounds-but 32red’s offer provides players with more bang for their buck on a site that is highly adept at providing an enthralling slot experience.
“Rachel and cricketer husband Freddie Fli” (CC BY 2.0) by Visit Victoria
Aside from the spin-off games, other countries have attempted to replicate the British show’s success. The Australian version has done well, and taken inspiration from the original’s winning formula. The hosts are Chris Brown and Julia Morris, and it has featured esteemed celebrities like cricket star Freddie Flintoff and Aussie Rules footballer Brendan Fevola, along with all the classic trials.
Ant and Dec’s version of the show is set to return again in 2016, and as the popularity continues to soar, just how many more spin-offs are fans likely to see?
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Garon Cockrell is the Founder and Editor of Pop Culture Beast and host of The Pop Culture Beast Show. He founded the site over seven years ago to have a place on the internet to write about the things he loved. Since then, Garon has become a best-selling author (Demonic and Other Tales), an award winning screenwriter (Best Screenplay 2013 Motor City Nightmares Film Festival), and a cast member on the top rated podcast, Never Not Funny.