“I’m A Celeb” was plunged into chaos when a thunderstorm hit camp, forcing the stars to be evacuated for safety. The UK Sun reported that all 12 campmates, including Kelly Brook, Aitch, and Angry Ginge, sheltered inside the Bush Telegraph for an hour as heavy rain and hail pounded the site. Filming was delayed by three hours as production waited for the weather to clear.
The storm eased after about 2 hours, but not before 50mm of rain fell in Dungay, New South Wales, according to The Standard. Campmates later returned to camp to dry their towels and bedding around the fire before some left to film that night’s Bushtucker Trial.
Production Confirms Safety Protocol Triggered
According to the UK Sun, a production insider said the evacuation was swift and precautionary.
“The camp was drenched, and the storm caused filming issues, but everything is fine now. Our health and safety weather contingencies kicked in, and we evacuated the celebrities immediately to the Bush Telegraph until the storm passed and it was safe to return to camp.”
Extreme weather is one of the biggest risks at the Australian site. Heavy rain can lead to blood-sucking leeches entering the camp. Creeks on the grounds can also “quickly turn from a trickle to a torrent,” putting contestants and crew at risk.
Bad Weather Has Been a Threat Since Before Filming Began
A thunderstorm hit the area even before this year’s series started. Producers prepared early to limit damage before the cast arrived. As per Metro UK, one insider previously said, “Never underestimate the Gold Coast weather – it can go from 30C heat to biblical storms in minutes.”
Last year’s series faced similar problems, with campmates evacuated twice because of storms. It was believed to be the wettest season in the show’s history, with 114.5mm falling in just 24 hours at one point.
Past Campmates Share How Brutal Weather Impacts Survival
The storm brought back memories of challenging conditions in previous seasons. Sun columnist Jane Moore said her bra was soaked with blood last year after a leech latched on during one night in camp. Danny Jones, winner of the 2024 series, described one evacuation as “one of the hardest nights.”
“We were all quite cramped and I think there were still 12 of us then as well, all boiling-hot in close proximity,” Danny told Mirror in 2024. “The rain also meant the leeches were searching for you and I was literally on leech check every day.”
During another 2024 downpour, part of the set was ripped up and roads leading into the area were flooded. One Bushtucker Trial was delayed by an hour due to storm damage.
