I'm A Celebrity South Africa fans work out 'real reason' Gemma Collins is missing from first episode
Are you excited to see The GC?I’m A Celebrity All Stars has officially returned but the one question on a lot of viewers’ lips is where is Gemma Collins?
Many fans were hyped to see what The GC would do with a second attempt at the reality series, after only surviving 72 hours the first time around. However, she never appeared!
The All Stars edition is back, with I’m A Celeb launching the brand new series in South Africa with a glittering line-up of familiar faces. But while viewers were excited to see the show back, many were left asking where Gemma Collins was after she was named in the iconic line-up.
I’m A Celebrity tonight
Ant and Dec are once again fronting the spin-off series, which promises tougher trials and a couple of surprise late arrivals. Former campmates from some of the show’s most memorable years have signed up to take on their fears all over again in the new setting.
The episode itself kicked off with Ashley and Adam meeting Ant and Dec against the South African backdrop, where they were immediately named camp leaders.
The pairs were then faced with their first challenge, alongside Beverley and Mo, collecting star pieces on an uneven platform suspended over a cliff edge. Tethered together and to the structure, they had to assemble the star as quickly as possible using only the pieces they gathered before the platform tipped.
Later, viewers were introduced to David Haye and Scarlett Moffatt, who were tasked with escaping a grim lodge cabin filled with critters and gunge.
When Seann Walsh and Sunita arrived hours later, they faced a nerve-wracking challenge of crossing a 140-foot bridge to collect a star, rounding off a dramatic opening episode.
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Adam, Beverley and Seann went to Savannah Scrub, while the rest of the crew went to camp.
Where’s Gemma Collins in I’m A Celebrity All Stars?
However, fans worked out half way through that we may not see all the celebrities in the All Stars edition – especially Gemma Collins. They were not happy…
Due to the nature of how long the first tasks were taking to be completed, a few stars are missing!
“They know Gemma is the most anticipated, yet they’re making us WAIT,” one fan complained on X (Twitter).
“I’m bored, Where is Gemma Collins?!” moaned another.
A third wrote: “We all waiting for Gemma Collins, let’s be honest.”
But viewers have ‘worked out’ why ITV bosses have written them in to the later part of the series.
“So the late arrivals are Gemma, Craig, Jimmy and Harry!” one fan worked out.
Another penned: “So there’s some ‘mystery’ celebs coming along shortly. Could it be Gemma Collins and Craig Charles as shown in the opening titles…”
Another believe it’s so people continue watching as she’s one of the most famous faces people are looking forward to seeing.
ITV fans complain over ‘bad picture quality’
However, it wasn’t the only issue viewers had on launch night. They quickly took to social media to complain about what they described as a “low frame rate” and poor “picture quality”.
More than one fan pointed out issues with how the episode appeared visually. Instead of focusing on the opening task featuring Mo Farah, Beverley Callard, Adam Thomas and Ashley Roberts, many were more concerned with the technical side of things.
“Why do they film I’m A Celeb South Africa on some weird frame rate?” one viewer asked on X.
Another wrote: “What’s going on with the camera quality on I’m A Celeb?”
A third added: “Is it me or is the picture quality a bit rubbish?”
Unlike the traditional December series, I’m A Celebrity All Stars is pre-recorded, rather than broadcast live, which may explain the difference some viewers noticed.
That said, not everyone was bothered by the visuals. Plenty of fans were simply happy to have the show back, with one declaring: “The world is a better place when I’m A Celeb is on our screens!”
ITV has been approached for comment.
