I’m A Celebrity ditches male and female Jungle King and Queen gender categories

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has ditched its male and female Jungle King and Queen gender categories for the new South Africa series. 

This All Star series sees famous faces from past seasons of the Australia version return to take on the wilderness yet again.

But instead of the winner being a King or Queen of the Jungle at the end of the three-week competition – they will be crowned an I’m A Celebrity ‘Legend’.  

The change has been made for the first time in 21 years as the All Stars version hits ITV. 

It comes after I’m A Celebrity fans all had the same complaint as the South African spin-off hit ITV viewers’ screens, branding it ‘wrong’. 

Change: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has ditched its male and female Jungle King and Queen gender categories for the new South Africa series

Back: This All Star series sees famous faces from past seasons of the Australia version return to take on the wilderness yet again

Back: This All Star series sees famous faces from past seasons of the Australia version return to take on the wilderness yet again

Final: But instead of the winner being a King or Queen of the Jungle at the end of the three-week competition - they will be crowned an I'm A Celebrity 'Legend'

Final: But instead of the winner being a King or Queen of the Jungle at the end of the three-week competition – they will be crowned an I’m A Celebrity ‘Legend’

The show was pre-recorded in South Africa’s Kruger National Park last year, with the first episode airing on Monday.

The lack of public vote means the stars, including Carol Vorderman, Helen Flanagan and Amir Khan, will compete against each other, thus will not be heading for royal status – instead just battling between each other.

A statement from ITV read: ‘With no public vote, they will be competing against each other in a battle to become the first ever ‘I’m A Celebrity Legend’.’

Viewers took to Twitter to express their frustration over the new format, with one penning: ‘When it’s all pre-recorded! Not live. Not watching.’

Another said: ‘I’m looking forward to the I’m A Celeb All Stars show but it’s a shame that it’s not live and we can’t vote with it being pre recorded.’

A third wrote: ‘I don’t like how it’s all pre-recorded! If Love Island can do it anyone can!’

One user added: ‘Really can’t see the point of this I’m A Celeb in South Africa if it’s all pre-recorded, no voting – just a swizz really, probably know who wins if you search online as well I guess.’ 

Someone penned: ‘Doesn’t quite feel the same seeing as it was recorded last September.’

Different: The change has been made for the first time in 21 years as the All Stars version hits ITV (pictured, Helen Flanagan)

Different: The change has been made for the first time in 21 years as the All Stars version hits ITV (pictured, Helen Flanagan)  

Set-up: The show was pre-recorded in South Africa 's Kruger National Park last year, with the first episode airing on Monday

Set-up: The show was pre-recorded in South Africa ‘s Kruger National Park last year, with the first episode airing on Monday 

Not live: It comes after I'm A Celebrity fans all had the same complaint as the South African spin-off hit ITV viewers' screens, branding it 'wrong'

Not live: It comes after I’m A Celebrity fans all had the same complaint as the South African spin-off hit ITV viewers’ screens, branding it ‘wrong’ 

As well as news of the winners, it has also been reported that two latecomers will join the cast – in the form of winners Georgia Toffolo and Joe Swash.

An insider told The Mirror: ‘There will still be a winner of the show but they won’t be crowned in quite the same way…

‘There is no public vote and also they have all competed before, so bosses decided they couldn’t really be crowned king or queen. Instead one celeb will get legendary status.’

A host of stars are featuring in the series including boxer Amir Khan, 36, former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan, 32, and television presenter Carol Vorderman, 62.

They are joined by the late Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell, 64, Happy Mondays star Shaun Ryder, 60, Janice Dickinson, retired javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread, 62, and former English international cricketer Phil Tufnell, 56.

The Sun reports Dean Gaffney, 45, Joe Swash, 41, Andy Whyment, 42, Myleene Klass, 45, and Georgia Toffolo, 28, will be arriving in camp later on in the series.

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk