- I’m A Celebrity contestants face extreme 90% humidity, higher than average, as a major challenge in the Aussie jungle
- Show medics are on alert, providing cooling towels and other measures to ensure contestants’ safety in harsh conditions
- Jack Osbourne, living with MS, could face additional challenges due to the humidity
This year’s I’m A Celebrity campmates have escaped the cold winter weather, but they’ll be facing an entirely different challenge.
The iconic ITV reality show returned on Sunday evening with the likes of Aitch, AngryGinge, Lisa Riley and Kelly Brook heading into the jungle for the new series.
According to reports, show medics are on red alert due to dangerous levels of humidity in the area.
It’s said humidity soared to 90% – which is 20% higher than the average for this time of year – in the area on Sunday, and bosses are making sure the celebrities are kept safe.
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‘The celebs have been hit with some of the worst Australia has to offer this year from the word go,’ an insider told The Sun.
‘They’ve been taken from lovely air-conditioned hotels to the humidity of the Aussie jungle with no time to adjust to the humidity.’
The source noted that in those conditions, it can be ‘seriously uncomfortable just to breathe in — let alone do any form of physical activity like they’ll have to do to keep camp moving’.
The insider added: ‘It’s been a baptism of fire.’
Of course, after over two decades on air, the I’m A Celeb medical team is ‘well prepared for situations like this’, with measures in place including water-activated cooling towels to mitigate against fainting.
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The humidity could cause issues for Jack Osbourne, who was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in 2012.
A couple of years ago, he was forced to leave US reality show Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test – which is similar to SAS: Who Dares Wins – due to medical concerns over an elevated heart rate.
‘The show’s doctors were more concerned than I was. I’m pretty healthy considering I’m living with MS, but it doesn’t present itself daily for me,’ he told Entertainment Weekly.
He added: ‘I’ve been, touch wood, going pretty strong, and I don’t have any issues with it right now. So that wasn’t a concern.’
Meanwhile, YouTuber Angry Ginge joked before heading into camp that he’s packed extra suncream because of his fair skin.
‘I’ve whacked on the factor 50 today and that’s just because I stayed in,’ he quipped.
Metro has contacted ITV for comment.
I’m A Celebrity continues tonight at 9pm.
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