Something important is happening on I’m A Celebrity 2024 – making it better than ever

I’m A Celebrity this year has highlighted something important (Picture: REX)

I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’s current cast makes up what could be the best-ever season of this reality TV series.

The beloved reality TV show returned with a bang on Sunday night and was as hilarious as ever with an enormous trouser snake and Wagatha Christie jokes flying around.

But as the campmates got settled into jungle life, something truly beautiful happened as they all got to open up and get to know one another on a deeper level.

While many of us might have been looking for gross food challenges and horrifying bug-filled trials, in a surprising twist the best thing about this new series is the emotionally supportive men.

In a moving moment on Monday night’s show, Barry McGuigan opened up about his 33-year-old daughter’s death.

The 63-year-old boxer confided in campmates: ‘I used to go to church a lot but after my daughter, you know, not as much. I used to go incessantly, but when you lose a child…’ he broke off.

The boxer detailed his daughter’s death from leukaemia in 2019 at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with cancer as a child and again as an adult.

Barry burst into tears and was immediately comforted by his campmate, as Danny Jones gave him a hug and Melvin Odoom rested his hand on his shoulder.

Barry said through tears: ‘I feel such a p***k, five years.’

Immediately, the campmates supported his vulnerability.

‘You’re a man going through pain and you’re vulnerable about it. That takes strength,’ said Tulisa Contostavlos as the celebrities murmured with their agreement.

Instead of shying away from the topic, or being uncomfortable with the boxer’s emotions, all of the celebrities talked about his daughter and his grief and challenged the notion that men could be considered weak for crying.

Many of the campmates then cried with Barry, including Oti Mabuse, Danny, Dean McCullough, Alan Halsall, Coleen Rooney, and Melvin who all wiped away tears and openly showed empathy towards his pain.

Barry’s grief caused tears in the camp as the celebrities listened to him speak about his daughter’s death (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Then on Wednesday night, Danny broke down in tears in a ‘vulnerable’ moment as he spoke about his mental health.

He recalled that he once suffered a panic attack while being interviewed on the daytime TV show This Morning and detailed his distress.

The All About You singer explained: ‘I was freaking out and I couldn’t answer the question that got asked to me. And then it started happening in my work.’

When Jane Moore asked Danny whether he thought he developed anxiety in his childhood or if it was a product of being in a band, he answered: ‘I think I escaped a lot.’

He then put his head in his hands and cried and was supported by Alan and Barry who patted the singer on the back.

‘It’s really good to let it out and it’s really brave to be vulnerable, people respect it,’ said Tulisa as she gave him a hug.

‘Sorry about that guys,’ he then added, ‘every time I talk about it, it gets so much easier, everything is heightened in here.’

In a different moment on Tuesday night,Dean returned from camp after a challenge without a single point.

The radio presenter miserably failed his bushtucker trial, but his campmates were kind and understood that his mental health was more important than their dinner as he was forced to confront his claustrophobia head-on.

None of his campmates begrudged him and instead hugged him as he broke down and told them how bad he felt for making them go hungry.

Dean crying after the Sinister Sarcophagus trial (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)

These moments have highlighted a really lovely shift as notions of toxic masculinity have been gently squashed with kindness and support.

Viewers have loved these sensitive moments from the cast and have praised the celebrities for their emotional literacy and empathy shown towards one another.

‘Barry McGuigan talking grief, Danny Jones talking anxiety, this is some stunning male representation I can’t lie #ImACeleb,’ said NatashaNUFC.

‘Two incredibly strong advocates for men’s mental health, breaking down the stigma one deep conversation at a time. It’s okay not to be okay #ImACeleb,’ said SFCMikeKavs.

‘All these men crying on I’m a celeb we love to see it BREAK THE STIGMA huns x we all have emotions xxxx love u Danny xx #ImACeleb,’ said grjf96.

The camp has been filled with love and support (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

In this season of the show, it’s not just women who are carrying the emotional labour, as the men have been open with their tears and their support for one another.

Every campmate regardless of gender is creating a warm and open environment for them all to be open and heal – and they seem to be having the best time because of it!

Sadly, many reality TV series thrive from conflict, but this series is thriving because of its lack of – and fans love to see it.

I’m A Celebrity continues tonight at 9pm on ITVX.

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