5 recurring complaints as I’m A Celebrity South Africa launches to lukewarm reviews
Not all fans were left impressedI’m A Celebrity South Africa returned to our screens on Monday night (April 6), but it appears the show has already been hit with numerous complaints.
The stars have already been split into two camps, with Adam Thomas and Ashley Roberts leading each side. And while many fans were looking forward to seeing quite a few of their favourite contestants returning, the first episode actually seemed to fall flat for many.
So, with numerous complaints about the show itself, let’s have a look at what I’m A Celebrity viewers have been saying.
1. Too many ads
Every year this seems to be a recurring complaint, as many fans feel the flow of the show is constantly interrupted by the ad breaks.
Once again, whenever the celebs went to start their trial, it would cut to a break. And now, fans aren’t quite happy about it.
Taking to social media, one penned: “Not these [bleep]ing ads again.”
Nah I forgot how annoying it is when they go to an ad break as soon as the trial starts #imaceleb #imacelebrity pic.twitter.com/eyqm9rbBwZ
— tasha louise 💗 (@eds_afterglow) April 6, 2026
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Another added: “And now the ads start again. I suppose they have to earn the money to pay these people.”
“I forgot how annoying it was when they go to an ad break as soon as the trial starts” a third commented.
2. Some think the show feels staged
However, the ads weren’t the only thing fans weren’t happy about. Many pointed out that the whole show actually feels quite staged this year, in comparison to others.
One fan penned on X: “This all feels enormously flat and staged.”
Nother commented: “It feels a bit staged this year..”
This all feels enormously flat and staged. #imaceleb
— John Keen (@JohnKeeno) April 6, 2026
As it’s the all stars season, every celebrity has done the show before, and knows exactly how it works, and what will get the public talking, so there is always the chance it wouldn’t feel as authentic as the normal series.
3. I’m A Celebrity fans feel it’s highly edited
Along with seeming staged, some viewers actually think the show has been highly edited, and isn’t actually giving the real insight to camp life.
One penned: “Another ITV show that needs putting out of it’s misery. Same trials, same music, same editing. Just boring rubbish.”
“I don’t see the point in I’m A Celebrity South Africa. It’s pre-recorded, heavily edited.. boring!”
4. Complaints over I’m A Celebrity campsites
However, the main complaints for I’m A Celebrity actually relates to the camp sites. As there are two camps, we got to see both during the launch show. But many fans felt they looked too much like a TV set, and not the authentic jungle we’re used to seeing.
One fan penned: “Looks like a set. They could stage a lunar landing here.”
These camps look far too clean, they look like they are in a studio, at least the aus one actually looks in the jungle #ImACeleb
— Ryan Anderson (@ryanganderson22) April 6, 2026
“The camps look super stage managed,” another added.
A third commented: “These camps look far too clean. They look like they are in a studio. At least the Australian one actually looks like it is in the jungle.”
5. Viewers feel show is too repetitive
After so many years of I’m A Celebrity, fans know the format. So, in order to keep it fresh, many viewers wanted a complete shake-up, for the episodes to show us something that has never been done before.
However, that wasn’t the case last night, as once again the show opened with the celebrities arriving in a helicopter and taking part in a high-rise trial. Because of this, many viewers actually found the launch show quite boring.
Well that has to be the dullest first episode of #ImACeleb ever. And the two camps look like studio sets. And don’t get me started on the number of ad breaks.
— BrightonBeautiful (@BrightonBren) April 6, 2026
One said: “Well that was the dullest first episode of I’m A Celebrity ever. The two camps look like studio sets, and don’t get me started on the number of ad breaks.”
“That first trial was [bleep]ing dragging. Boring me already,” another added.
A third commented: “That was boring as hell, the bits I paid attention to anyway. Hopefully it will improve.”
So, with quite a lot of complaints from viewers, I’m A Celebrity South Africa has a lot of work to do for fans to start being interested in it again!
Read more: Adam Thomas’ 6-year-old daughter’s brutal response to ‘useless’ dad on I’m A Celebrity
