Ant McPartlin finally made his long-awaited return to I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here on Sunday night, after taking a two-year break from the show.
The presenter, 43, joked that he’d taken a ‘year off’ as presenting partner Declan Donnelly gushed that they were ‘all back’ in Australia for the most dramatic launch show yet.
Ant’s arrival came as ten celebrities including Caitlyn Jenner, Nadine Coyle and Ian Wright endured some of the scariest opening challenges in the show’s history to make their way into the jungle.
They’re back! Ant McPartlin finally made his long-awaited return to I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here on Sunday night, after taking a two-year break from the show
As they introduced the show, Dec gushed: ‘We’re back, he’s back, I’m back, we’re all back,’ as they began the show by describing this year’s stars.
Ant didn’t avoid pointing out his break from TV duties last year, and after Dec struggled to deliver a line he said: ‘I’ve had a year off what’s your excuse?’
Ant’s re-arrival on the show came after he took a break last year amid various personal woes, with Holly Willoughby stepping in to replace him.
Hilarious: The presenter, 43, joked that he’d taken a ‘year off’ as presenting partner Declan Donnelly gushed that they were ‘all back’ in Australia for the most dramatic launch show yet
His presenting duties were originally suspended by ITV in March 2018 after he was arrested following a road collision with a green Mini and a maroon BMW.
Ant later pleaded guilty to driving under the influence at Wimbledon Crown Court. He was banned from driving for 20-months and fined a British record £86,000 for drink-driving.
Speaking in August 2018, the presenter confirmed he was taking a temporary break from all presenting duties in order to focus on his recovery.
In a statement, he said: ‘My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off.
‘I’d like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year.’
Funny: Ant didn’t avoid pointing out his break from TV duties last year, and after Dec struggled to deliver a line he said: ‘I’ve had a year off what’s your excuse?’
Ant and Dec recently posted a snap of themselves to their Instagram account as they prepare to host the latest series of I’m A Celebrity.
The outing comes after Dec admitted that he thought he had ‘lost’ his best friend of 31 years for good when Ant was arrested for a drink-driving conviction last year.
Speaking in their ITV documentary Ant & Dec’s DNA Journey, Dec said: ‘It has been a tough couple of years and it has tested the bond we have shared since we were 13.’
At the start of the show, the ten celebrities made a dramatic arrival either on a speedboat or in the back of a luxury sports car.
Here they are! Ian Wright, Kate Garraway, James Haskell, Nadine Coyle and Myles Stephenson met for the first time on a luxury yacht, with Girls Aloud singer Nadine quickly pleading with producers that she didn’t want to do a skydive
Excited: Ian (left) and Nadine (right) were the first stars to meet, and delightedly exchanged pleasantries as they headed to the luxury yacht
Ian Wright, Kate Garraway, James Haskell, Nadine Coyle and Myles Stephenson met for the first time on a luxury yacht, with Girls Aloud singer Nadine quickly pleading with producers that she didn’t want to do a skydive.
Kate insisted she was up for any challenge in her later years, while James quickly confessed that he had never seen the show before.
The five stars were then stunned to see the remaining five celebrities – Caitlyn Jenner, Roman Kemp, Andrew Maxwell, Jacqueline Jossa and Adele Roberts – speeding past on boats to a remote beach.
Following the brief introductions, Ant and Dec headed to the yacht and the beach, where they revealed that the celebrities will be competing against each other in pairs for a more luxurious camp with better food.
The boat celebrities – Ian, Kate, James, Nadine and Myles – would race to the shore by swimming for the chance to pick their partner first.
Ever the athletes, Myles and James were first to make it to the shore, with Nadine finishing third, Ian in fourth and Kate in last place.
As each partner was chosen, Myles was partnered with Roman, Nadine chose Adele after revealing that they’d met almost 20 years earlier; Ian chose Jacqueline and finally Kate chose Andrew.
Ian and Jacqueline, Roman and Myles and Andrew and Kate would battle it out to become the first power pair; leaving Adele and Nadine and Caitlyn and James to battle it out for the second one and a place in the better camp.
As the celebrities took off in separate helicopters, Roman and Myles, Kate and Andrew and Ian and Jacqueline were taken to the Focus Building, where they would face the dreaded Walk The Plank challenge.
Each of the pairs would have to walk to the end of a wobbling platform 300 ft in the air, and had to press a buzzer, with the winning pair pressing in the fastest time.
Up first were Ian and Jacqueline, but the actress broke down in tears at facing the prospect one of her fears, but eventually agreed to take on the challenge with the knowledge she was paired up with Ian.
Faced against the high winds, the platform constantly shook as the celebrities made their way along the platform and down the ladder before pressing the buzzer at lightning speed.
I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE! Meet the Cast
Name: CAITLYN JENNER
Age: 70
Claim to fame: Olympian and TV personality
Phobias: None but like everyone, insects do gross me out.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: To show I am exactly the same person as I have always been.
Role in the camp: To be there for everyone in the camp and to help with chores.
Miss most: My family, friends, house – everything!
Dream camper: Kanye West. ‘He is a good friend of mine and he’s good to have an intelligent and interesting conversation with.’
Missing any special occasion: Thanksgiving.
Relationship status: ‘I have lots of friends.’
Name: IAN WRIGHT MBE
Age: 56
Claim to fame: Broadcaster and former footballer
Phobias: Some of those things [snakes, rats and creepy crawlies] will make me squirm but I will deal with them when I am in there!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I am going in as me and I am not going in to try to be anything different.
Role in the camp: Help out with all the activities.
Miss most: Aside from my family, football.
Dream camper: Someone who has knowledge and wisdom.
Missing any special occasion: Football punditry work commitments.
Relationship status: Married
Name: JACQUELINE JOSSA
Age: 27
Claim to fame: Soap star
Phobias: Insects, creatures, spiders – everything.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I think some people see me as a pushover or doormat – I am not.
Role in the camp: Shoulder to cry on.
Miss most: My children, husband, family and social media!
Dream camper: Jamie Oliver would be wicked. He would be able to cook in the camp.
Missing any special occasion: No.
Relationship status: Married
Name: NADINE COYLE
Age: 34
Claim to fame: Pop star
Phobias: Heights, rats, snakes – everything!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: There’s nothing I can think of. This is so outside my comfort zone!
Role in the camp: Cook and someone who is there to help with chores.
Miss most: My daughter, Anaiya.
Dream camper: Nadiya Hussain – she would be great for cooking us meals.
Missing any special occasion: No.
Relationship status: Single
Name: KATE GARRAWAY
Age: 52
Claim to fame: TV and radio presenter
Phobias: Spiders, heights, being in a box covered with snakes – I am terrified of absolutely everything.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: Nothing, I want to go in the Jungle and fly the flag for the older woman.
Role in the camp: Cooking for everyone.
Miss most: My family and not being able to check the news headlines about the latest Brexit developments.
Dream camper: The Queen – she would be the best campmate in the world!
Missing any special occasion: Lorraine Kelly’s 60th party and Richard Arnold’s 50th party!
Relationship status: Married
Name: JAMES HASKELL
Age: 34
Claim to fame: Ex England rugby player
Phobias: I’m not going to tell you!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I’m going in the Jungle to have a fun time but I’ve always done this lad bravado kind of thing and actually I am really different.
Role in the camp: I will help around the camp with all the jobs.
Miss most: My wife, technology and not being able to read a book.
Dream camper: Idris Elba.
Missing any special occasion: No.
Relationship status: Married
Name: MYLES STEPHENSON
Age: 28
Claim to fame: Rak-Su singer
Phobias: Bugs and spiders – I have to get my family members to get rid of them for me!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: Nothing. I am a pretty normal person. I even go to the shops in my PJs!
Role in the camp: Cook.
Miss most: My PlayStation. I love gaming!
Dream camper: Sir Elton John. I admire him so much and he’s a Watford boy too.
Missing any special occasion: No.
Relationship status: Single
Name ADELE ROBERTS
Age: 40
Claim to fame: Radio 1 DJ
Phobias: Spiders – I am so petrified!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I can’t think of any.
Role in the camp: Cleaner and I’ll set up a pretend radio studio in the camp to inject some fun.
Miss most: My girlfriend, family and music – a day doesn’t go by when I am not listening to it.
Dream camper: Rita Ora – she is amazing.
Missing any special occasion: My dad’s birthday and he doesn’t know yet that I am going in the Jungle!
Relationship status: Has a girlfriend.
Name: ROMAN KEMP
Age: 26
Claim to fame: Capital Radio DJ
Phobias: Cotton wool and I won’t like trials in the dark.
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I am always referred to as Martin Kemp’s son so it would be nice for everyone to get to know me a bit better.
Role in the camp: The person who will do all the jobs nobody wants to do.
Miss most: My parents and my girlfriend.
Dream camper: Thierry Henry – I am a massive Arsenal fan!
Missing any special occasion: Other than my breakfast show, Capital Radio’s Jingle Bell ball. I have never ever missed it before.
Relationship status: Dating
Name: ANDREW MAXWELL
Age: 44
Claim to fame: Comedian
Phobias: I don’t like the look of any of those guys – the insects and creepy crawlies!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: Nothing – I am just going to be myself.
Role in the camp: The person who cleans out the toilet every day and who collects the logs.
Miss most: My wife, children, beer and football.
Dream camper: Geoff Capes.
Missing any special occasion: Other than my stand-up gigs, no.
Relationship status: Married