I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here viewers are already working the brand new campmates out as they made their debuts during the opening episode. Hollyoaks star Owen Warner is among the ten famous faces who met for the first time before facing their first challenges ahead of joining forced in the jungle camp.
Fans were delighted to see the show back on air and back in Australia. Hosting duo Ant and Dec couldn't hide their delight either at being back Down Under after three years away. For the last two years, the hit ITV reality show has been filmed at a castle in Wales due to travel restrictions imposed through the coronavirus pandemic.
Owen, who is known for playing Romeo Nightingale in the Channel 4 soap, was among the famous faces heading for the camp alongside the likes of Boy George, Coronation Street's Sue Cleaver, Loose Women star Charlene White, rugby star Mike Tindall, and radio DJ Christ Moyles.
READ MORE: Olivia Attwood forced to quit ITV I'm A Celebrity after just 24 hours
He was seen arriving one-by-one by boat to a marina where he first met with Boy George, and Sue Cleaver before they were joined by TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas and Mike. But things got off to a tricky start for Owen as he didn't appear to know who people were.
When inquiring about what Scarlette was known for, singing legend Boy George said: “She’s from A Place In The Sun." But a clueless Owen replied: "Whereabouts?" to which the Culture Club star told him: "No, like the TV show." It came before the 23-year-old looked baffled as he met Boy George for the fist time and singled for his name.
And after his initial hilarious mistakes, I'm A Celebrity viewers couldn't help but compare him to a former campmate who made it all the way to the final in 2013. @lisabaron62 tweeted: "The spirit of joey Essex has entered Owen Warner and I am here for it #imaceleb." @_pickering1 asked: "Anyone else getting Joey Essex vibes from Owen?? #ImACeleb."
@saffiahrose shared: "Owen Warner is gonna provide the same level of entertainment as Joey Essex #ImACelebrity." @emmajroyle posted: "Owen is cracking me up he’s serving Joey Essex #ImACelebrity." @BeingAlwyn added: "Owen playing the Joey Essex card #imaceleb."
As Ant and Dec showed up to meet the second lot of a five celebrities by boat, they announced that Boy George was the second Jungle VIP voted in and he chose Scarlette to join him for a meal for two on a yacht. The presenting duo also poked fun at Boy George when introducing his arrival, dancing to Do You Really Want To Hurt Me by his band Culture Club, before telling viewers their answer to the question in the song title was “yes”.
The remaining campmates – Owen, Mike and Sue – were helicoptered into the jungle and put to the test on the “Critter Cruise” where they had to each try and secure a star from a boat’s mast by completing a challenge. Among the obstacles to unlocking the stars was a code which Mike had to break and a "hell hole" of critters where Cleaver had to search for fish eyes.
Meanwhile, Owen had to get into a pipe and search through bugs and grime to find hex keys to unlock a grate. This secured all three stars to take back to camp.
And Owen's on-screen mum has appeared to share what the soap star is really like. Former Corrie star Lucy-Jo Hudson, who stars as Romeo’s mum Donna-Marie in Hollyoaks, said her co-star has "no common sense" but is expecting him to do well in the show. She told her followers: “Well I expected nothing less…. my on screen son @_owenwarner…. Absolutely smashed it tonight in @imacelebrity.
“He’s already coming across exactly how I thought, his lovely, genuine self! Who is an absolute sweetheart, and an old school gent… he’s also got no common sense whatsoever…. which you will have seen tonight and I know he won’t mind me saying that, because he laughs at himself!
“His one liners will have you in stitches! You will all love him." Lucy continued: “I’m so excited to watch your journey on this mega show! I know you’re gonna smash It. Let’s all get behind him... Good Luck Owen, continue to be yourself and everyone will just fall in love with you…. proud of you, your mama xxx."
READ NEXT:
- Matt Hancock's ITV I'm A Celebrity arrival date 'confirmed' by Good Morning Britain star after viewers' questions
- ITV I'm A Celebrity fans floored by Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver's age
- ITV I'm A Celebrity viewers spot 'disorientating' move before after sharing complaint minutes into show
- ITV I'm a Celebrity fans have same complaint about Corrie star Sue Cleaver's arrival
- ITV I'm a Celebrity viewers declare the winner just minutes into new series as Ant and Dec poke fun at Babatunde fail
