Im A Celebrity South Africa 2026: Four late arrivals and a format shake-up that will be hard to ignore
In a surprising twist for the returning All Stars edition, im a celebrity south africa 2026 arrives with both nostalgia and a format change that puts the public in the decision seat. Filming in the dramatic Blyde River Canyon, the second series reunites 12 past contestants from the franchise, introduces four latecomers and will culminate in a live grand final decided by public vote.
Im A Celebrity South Africa 2026: Filming in Mpumalanga and what viewers will actually see
The production is based along the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga, a location described in coverage as the third largest canyon in the world and notable for its striking red cliffs and landmarks such as the Three Rondavels and God’s Window. The series is scheduled to premiere on April 6, ET, with a live grand final on April 24, ET. All 12 contestants were photographed together wearing the show’s khakis and red tops against the South African wilderness backdrop.
Why the new All Stars lineup and format change matters
This run brings back familiar faces — names in the announced roster include Beverley Callard, Mo Farah, Harry Redknapp, Scarlett Moffatt, Gemma Collins, Craig Charles, Jimmy Bullard, Sinitta, Seann Walsh, David Haye, Adam Thomas and Ashley Roberts. The programme will stage Bushtucker-style trials described as “next level, ” and four late arrivals were confirmed. The series also introduces a substantive format change: for the first time the winner will be decided by a public vote, with the live final staged in London on April 24, ET. That shift turns the series from a pre-determined editorial arc into a viewer-driven outcome and has direct implications for how contestants will be framed and how producers may pace storytelling over the broadcast run.
Expert perspectives and regional impact: what the cast reveals about the show’s pull
Beverley Callard, Coronation Street star, reflected on how participating in the show previously gave her a confidence boost and detailed personal health developments since filming. She said, “I do tend to suffer from low self-esteem… it gave me confidence, and it was lovely to be with such a wonderful group of people. ” Callard also described enduring fear around the trials, adding, “You sit there thinking ‘please don’t let it be me’… I am most scared of the eating trials. “
Scarlett Moffatt, former Queen of the Jungle and Gogglebox favourite, framed her return as both personal and professional respite: “It’s lovely to be able to show my little boy what I do as a job… I am going to miss him loads, but it will also be nice to have some time just for me, especially as I’m A Celebrity has been such a big part of my life. ” She described feeling overwhelmed at being invited back and pledged to “give it my all. ” These first-person reflections underscore why the All Stars concept traffics in redemption and emotional reaffirmation as much as competition.
There is also an accessibility dimension. The series will air on a broadcaster and stream that are geo-restricted to the UK, and coverage notes there has been no announcement of a local South African broadcaster picking up the rights. That means many viewers in South Africa will not be able to watch directly without technical workarounds, limiting local exposure even as the location and landscapes become central to the series’ visual identity.
The production’s combination of a scenic South African setting, a reunion-driven cast and the introduction of a public vote creates a distinct editorial proposition for the April broadcast window. Yet the change also raises questions about audience composition and reach: the choice of location amplifies South African scenery across nightly prime-time slots in the UK while geo-restriction restricts direct access for residents of the country hosting the shoot.
As programme coverage settles in advance of the April 6, ET premiere, im a celebrity south africa 2026 is shaping up to be both a ratings play and a cultural moment for expatriate audiences — even as it prompts debate about who gets to watch and who gets to decide the winner. How will the public vote reshape the narrative arcs of returning contestants, and what will it mean for future location choices and rights negotiations?
