London24NEWS

Inside I’m A Celebrity’s ‘faux’ jungle camp with man-made waterfall, papier mache rocks, hidden rain roof and secret cave

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here returned to screens this week. 

The camp has already been suffering from cold and rainy weather and a few critters crawling around at night.

The celebs are stripped from their luxuries, forced to sleep in hammocks, have built their own fires for warmth and wash with freezing cold water.

But viewers may be confused at why the celebrities never actually get wet or how the girls manage to maintain their hair and lash extensions despite their luxuries getting taken away.

Plot twist, not everything about the ‘jungle’ camp is as real as it looks.

The waterfall where the campmates shower is actually a man-made water feature that turns on and off. 

I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here returned to screens with 10 new campmates this week (Danny Jones pictured)

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here returned to screens with 10 new campmates this week (Danny Jones pictured)

The celebs are stripped from their luxuries, forced to sleep in hammocks, build their own fires for warmth and have to wash with freezing cold water

The celebs are stripped from their luxuries, forced to sleep in hammocks, build their own fires for warmth and have to wash with freezing cold water

In 2006, Lauren Booth revealed in the Daily Mail: ‘The waterfall, like the pool beneath it, was not part of the jungle at all, but a man-made creation.’

She added: ‘Unless, of course, ‘real’ rainforest waterfalls get turned off between three and six every afternoon.’

The same year it was also discovered by David Gest that the rocks dotted around camp were also false.

They were found to be made of papier mache and hollow inside so that cameramen could hide inside them.

A source close to the show previously addressed the fake set, explaining that certain things have to be built by hand, ‘because they don’t naturally occur where one would like them to.’

While the celebrities often are seen collecting wood for the campfire, this job is made easier for them.

The wood has been dried and chopped up in advance, then strewn over a wide area by TV crews so the stars can be sent to find it.

Sources close to the show explain that they can’t allow the celebrities to be let loose with an axe, and also need to protect the fauna and forest habitat.

The camp has already been suffering from cold and rainy weather and a few animals crawling around at night

The camp has already been suffering from cold and rainy weather and a few animals crawling around at night

But viewers may be confused at why the celebrities never actually get wet or how the girls manage to maintain their hair and lash extensions despite their luxuries getting taken away (Tulisa pictured)

But viewers may be confused at why the celebrities never actually get wet or how the girls manage to maintain their hair and lash extensions despite their luxuries getting taken away (Tulisa pictured)

Plot twist, not everything about the 'jungle' camp is as real as it looks (Dean McCullough pictured)

Plot twist, not everything about the ‘jungle’ camp is as real as it looks (Dean McCullough pictured)

The waterfall where the campmates shower is actually a man-made water feature that turns on and off

The waterfall where the campmates shower is actually a man-made water feature that turns on and off

It was also discovered that the rocks dotted around camp were also false

It was also discovered that the rocks dotted around camp were also false 

Meanwhile, the rain that the celebrities often complain about is less of a problem than it would appear.

There’s actually a retractable canopy 50 ft in the air above the camp, preventing the stars from getting soaked and keeping the campfire lit.

It has been decided that it would be unsafe to leave the celebrities in a rainy jungle without any shelter at all, not to mention make for bad TV. 

It is however, not completely weather-proof nor does it cover the whole of camp, while it is said to leak if the rain is too heavy.

And a source insisted to The Daily Mail: ‘A lot of the camp is not under shelter — it’s not like the roof at Wimbledon!’ 

Since 2016, there has also been a secret hidden cave built beside the shower in camp.

The private hideaway was used as Matt Hancock and Sean Walsh’s mole HQ when they were nominated to be the camp moles.

But its existence opens many possibilities for campmates, with producers suggesting the room can be used for illicit purposes.  

It is however, not completely weather-proof nor does it cover the whole of camp, while it is said to leak if the rain is too heavy

It is however, not completely weather-proof nor does it cover the whole of camp, while it is said to leak if the rain is too heavy

Since 2016, there has also been a secret hidden cave built beside the shower in camp

Since 2016, there has also been a secret hidden cave built beside the shower in camp

Producer Oli Nash told The Mirror: ‘Next door is a secret cave which will be hidden behind a locked door. It will be used a number of times through out the series for our celebrities.

‘Inside it is just a plain cave with a bench but we will be using it through out the series for various events. The floors a bit hard – but it can be used for romance.’

The critters around the jungle are very real, but they are actually bred by an animal specialist in a bug factory and bought by the show.

Around 250,000 cockroaches, 153,000 crickets, 500,000 meal worms, 400 spiders, 500 rats, and 30 snakes are used for each series. 

This has caused some trouble for producers over the years, with there being a shortage of cockroaches in Australia in 2012 because of weather conditions.

The following year witchetty grubs were not bred successful, it is said that one year saw producers paying locals $5 for every spider they could find in desperation.

I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP

OTI MABUSE  

Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt

Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt

AGE: 34

OCCUPATION: Professional dancer

FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020. 

DANNY JONES 

Danny Jones is one of the bookies' favourites to win this year's I'm A Celeb

Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: McFly singer

FAMOUS FOR:  Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly. 

He is also a coach on The Voice UK. 

BARRY MCGUIGAN 

Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle

Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle

AGE: 63

OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer

FAMOUS FOR:  Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986. 

GK BARRY

GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women

GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women

AGE: 25

OCCUPATION: TikTok star 

FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel. 

DEAN MCCULLOUGH 

ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp

ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp

AGE: 32

OCCUPATION:  Radio 1 DJ 

FAMOUS FOR:  Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views. 

Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.  

JANE MOORE  

Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women

Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Journalist

 FAMOUS FOR:  Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002. 

She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.

Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow. 

MELVIN ODOOM  

Melvin was previously courted by I'm A Celeb bosses back in 2021

Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021

AGE: 44

OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter

FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.

He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.

COLEEN ROONEY 

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show's history

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: WAG

FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.

ALAN HALSALL  

Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street

Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street

AGE: 42

OCCUPATION: Actor 

FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.

Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap. 

TULISA  

Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year

Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year

AGE: 36

OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge 

FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.

In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss. 

She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.  

REVEREND RICHARD COLES

Richard is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest

Richard is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Writer, broadcaster and priest

FAMOUS FOR: Richard is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest. 

He first came to prominence as the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band the Communards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 MAURA HIGGINS

Maura is best known for her stint on Love Island UK in 2019

Maura is best known for her stint on Love Island UK in 2019

 AGE: 33

OCCUPATION: TV Personality

FAMOUS FOR: Maura is an Irish television personality, television presenter and model. 

She rose to prominence in 2019, when she was a finalist on the fifth series of ITV2 reality series Love Island.