I'm A Celebrity fans were reportedly left 'fuming' by Friday night's show after being given no say in the first exit of the new series.
The new South Africa-based series got under way on Monday night, with Geordie duo Ant and Dec hosting a varied mix of celebrities in the new Legends version of the hit ITV show and there was drama from the off. But, in a change to the usual format, the first eviction of the series saw Gillian McKeith and Shaun Ryder forced to leave the competition after coming last in a trial - and I'm A Celebrity fans proved far from satisfied with the way it played out.
They were not happy at not having a chance to cast a vote in which celebrities should go - but the series, which also features Amir Khan, Carol Vorderman, Jordan Banjo, Andy Whyment, Toff and Phil Tuffnell, is entirely pre-recorded. Comments on social media from dissatisfied viewers after Friday night's episode and evicton, included: "NO I HATE THIS WE NEED TO VOTE WERE GONNA LOSE GOOD PEOPLE #ImACeleb," reports The Mirror.
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Another added that while enjoying the series "these shows only work because the public get to vote. They should have just made it work LIVE". One called it a "joke" saying "why not just do summer and winter I’m a celeb so we can vote, I hate that one of my faves will be going, and if it’s Andy I’m switching off #ImACeleb,". And one viewer tweeted: "This is why we need a public vote as now one of the best Campmates is going to go home."
At the end of Friday's episode, former feuding stars Gillian and Shaun hugged one another and joked about getting married before heading off for home. The celebrities have since explained hows they felt coming face-to-face again on the show, having fallen out during their original appearance on it.
Gillian is reported as saying: "I heard a rumour he might be going in and I was horrified. Then when I saw him as I arrived I said ‘hello Shaun’ and I felt something shifted, even in that moment.
"He was very welcoming - we got on brilliantly. He sang my praises. I was like ‘who is this guy?’ He was like ‘she’s brains, she’s so intelligent, she’s this, she’s that’ - every compliment you can imagine flying out. It was crazy. I thought ‘Has he had a brain transplant?’ It shows you, you can go full circle with a relationship. It’s a life lesson for everybody."
Shaun added: "She made such an impact last time I thought, if anyone is coming back, she’ll be there. The only difference is I’m 12 years more mature. I was all peaceful and nice with Gillian as soon as she walked in.
"I think she was a little bit ‘woo’, a little bit ‘whey’ as she had all these memories going on. But we got on. You know, Gillian’s Gillian. I mean, last time, I didn’t not like Gillian. I kept telling her that."
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