Why I’m A Celebrity stars no longer have phone numbers on back of T-shirts-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Fans have branded the huge outfit change the ‘end of an era’ (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! viewers have spotted a huge change when it comes to the 2024 campmate’s outfits, calling it the ‘end of an era’.

As is standard practice, when the celebrities head into the jungle to face Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly’s grim bushtucker trials, they leave behind their personal possessions and everyday clothing, instead having to wear a basic uniform consisting of blue T-shirts and red trousers.

But this year, there’s a change to the tops, which normally have voting numbers written on the back alongside the campmate’s name.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse, McFly’s Danny Jones, Tulisa Contostavlos, and Alan Halsall joined Coleen Rooney and Dean McCullough in the jungle during last night’s launch show.

Jane Moore, Melvin Odoom, Barry McGuigan, and GK Barry are also part of this year’s line-up with two more rumoured stars set to be joining.

Watching the drama kick-off on Sunday night, some fans took to X to share their surprise that the voting numbers had seemingly disappeared from the the stars’ backs, with just their full name written instead.

The celebrities entered the camp yesterday (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Their uniform used to include phone numbers on the back so fans could call in to vote (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Sam Thompson was voted King of the Jungle last year (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

‘All of the t-shirts having full government names on the back rather than their first names and a phone number is sending me,’ @st_ua_rt wrote.

‘Where the numbers,’ @paradeboy added, as @BrattyBarbi wrote: ‘No phone numbers on the back of their T-Shirts…. End of an Era.’

They also commented: ‘ITV completely phasing out phone voting is a disgrace… the phone numbers on the back of the celebrities t-shirts was one of the last British traditions we had.’

‘So 2024 is the year they’ve finally got rid of phone voting… who’s gonna shout call the SHORT NUMBER now,’ @marcjohnson27 added.

Fans were quick to notice the change (Picture: X)

It comes after more than two decades of the phone numbers on the campmates’ backs (Picture: X)

It turns out there’s a pretty simple explanation behind it all, as instead of voting via phone call, votes are being counted on the app now.

An insider told MailOnline: ‘Over the years the number of people voting by phone has declined and it’s become a very small proportion of votes cast.’

They added: ‘To simplify the message to our viewers, we have chosen to only have free online voting this year via the app.’

Last night’s votes saw GK Barry, real name Grace Keeling, revealed as the next celebrity to take on tonight’s bushtucker trial.

GK Barry has been voted in for the next bushtucker trial (Picture: Rich Lowe/ITV/Shutterstock)

And after her squealing and screaming yesterday, we can only imagine what’s in store.

As well as their blue T-shirts and khaki shirts with red shorts or trousers, the celebrities in the jungle also have to wear uniform socks – and there’s a reason behind it.

The socks are all bright red, and are picked to mask any accidental blood seeping through.

The show’s former on-site medic, Bob McCarron, previously shared that as campmates are likely to be bitten by many varieties of creepy crawlies, such as leeches, it saves viewers from having to cover their eyes if they have an aversion to blood.

I’m A Celebrity continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1.

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