I’m A Celebrity 2024 is proof the best TV doesn’t need drama-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro

I’m A Celebrity championed love and togetherness over needless drama and division (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

The latest series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! was the warm hug we all needed.

At this time of year, many of us are often in need of comfort and cosy-watching on the small screen. It’s cold outside, dreary rain is a frequent visitor, and the festive period can be a difficult period emotionally for plenty of people.

What’s more, the landscape of British TV has been tumultuous as of late to say the least. With scandal after scandal plaguing telly land and well-known public figures facing allegations of misconduct behind the scenes, it’s felt at times as though the industry is on the edge of a precipice that it might not be able to recover from.

Which is why it was even more important that the 2024 season of I’m A Celebrity – which was won by McFly musician Danny Jones – championed love and togetherness over needless drama and division.

In the past, drama was a key ingredient for creating TV gold. Look at the success of The X Factor at its prime – viewers were captivated by hopeful singers facing public humiliation in front of millions, and found the judges’ jibes at the contestants and each other hilarious.

When ITV decided to cast contentious politicians Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage on I’m A Celebrity in 2022 and 2023 respectively, no one could deny that the broadcaster had hoped to spark controversy with the signings.

The uproar over the announcements from furious fans and the thousands who signed petitions calling for them to be axed said it all.

Even before I’m A Celeb started last month, fans were convinced that it was going to be one of the best yet (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

We all breathed a massive sigh of relief when it was reported that ITV bosses had purposely chosen not to include any politicians in the line-up for the 2024 series, in the hope of creating a more ‘positive’ atmosphere in camp.

While that wasn’t the only reason why the latest season proved a massive success, I’m sure it certainly helped provide fans with a renewed sense of faith in the programme that they’ve loved watching for over 20 years.

Even before I’m A Celeb started last month, fans were convinced that it was going to be one of the best yet.

The campmates confirmed for the jungle included beloved stars such as Love Island legend Maura Higgins, rocker Danny, Strictly Come Dancing fan-favourite Oti Mabuse and Wagatha Christie herself, Coleen Rooney. 

On paper, a recipe for TV magic thanks to a line-up brimming with charismatic personalities. And as it turns out, it really was.

Not only did each of the celebrities imbue camp with their own individual charm, but they bounced off each other brilliantly, having a laugh and providing shoulders to cry on during some of their most vulnerable moments ever on TV.

Danny found himself a father figure in boxing legend Barry McGuigan. Oti cried when Reverend Richard Coles revealed he’d said a prayer for her one-year-old daughter. Conversations were shared about postnatal depression, grief over loss of loved ones, and missing home from thousands of miles away. 

Danny found himself a father figure in boxing legend Barry McGuigan (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Sure, there was the occasional tiff here and there, but only little arguments that are bound to come up when people are forced to live together in less-than-ideal circumstances, with rationed food and chores to do.

I’m A Celebrity 2024 was the three-week escape from reality that we all needed, providing definitive proof that TV can be wholesome and bring in huge viewing figures without having to resort to melodramatic means.

This feeling was echoed across the fanbase, with one X user called Dailiah writing ahead of the finale: ‘This series set a VERY high standard for reality TV. No fights, no negativity. A SAFE place, every night – without raising my stress levels. I’ll never watch toxic reality TV after this.’

James commented: ‘Hope that the producers of #ImACeleb realise that they don’t need divisive, snake oil salesman politicians in the Jungle for us to watch it. This has been the best series in years!’

Another fan going by the handle @babyblockhead on X added: ‘If this series of the jungle has proved anything it’s that important and heartfelt conversations, funny and loveable people and witnessing the forging of beautiful friendships and bonds make a more enjoyable viewing experience than drama, conflict and tension.’

Hopefully the overwhelmingly positive response that I’m A Celebrity has received – with a peak of almost eight million viewers tuning into the finale to watch Danny be crowned the new King of the Jungle – sets the bar for future series to come.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is available to watch on ITVX.

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