The first episode of the new I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! had an audience of over 10 million people at its peak on Sunday night.
As the hit ITV show returned to the country’s screens from Australia for the first time since 2019, Ant and Dec pulled off the biggest entertainment launch of any channel for the entire year.
Official figures have revealed that the show had 10.3 million television viewers on its first night, with a total of 9.1 million watching the entire episode.
Big Numbers: The First Episode of the New I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! had an audience of over 10 million people at its peak on Sunday night
This makes I’m A Celeb ITV the biggest overnight viewership since last year’s Euros and the biggest launch of programming across all channels this year excluding national and sporting events.
The numbers are two million higher than last year when the show was filmed at Gwrych Castle in Wales as travel restrictions prevented travel Down Under.
With two million 16-34 year old television viewers throughout the show, last night’s I’m A Celebrity is also the largest 16-34 year old audience of the year, across any program or channel.
Even The Masked Singer’s I’m A Celebrity special peaked at 4.8 million viewers on Sunday night.
Brand new series: At launch, Love Island star Olivia Attwood, 31, and radio legend Chris Moyles, 48, were given a ‘once of a lifetime’ as they faced the ultimate skydive
Numbers are overnight TV ratings and do not include catch-up or streaming.
I’m a celebrity! Get me out of here… returned to the Australian outback for the first time in three years on Sunday night as 10 new housemates arrived for the latest season of the grueling ITV series.
It saw former Love Island star Olivia Attwood, 31, and radio legend Chris Moyles, 48, receive a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” as they face the ultimate skydive.
Thrill-seeking: The Love Island star, 31, and radio legend, 48, were given a golden opportunity as they faced the ultimate skydive
Chris and Olivia had been enjoying their meal when they received some information which read: ‘Olivia and Chris, we hope you enjoyed your meal.
“Now it’s time to begin your journey to camp, and as VIPs, you’ll get a taste of the high life by jumping from a helicopter at 10,000 feet.”
After first finishing the jump, an emotional Olivia said, “Oh my god I’m crying, that’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. That’s incredible. Top 10 experience of my life. Just unbelievable.’
Taking in her surroundings, she added, “I wasn’t expecting to end up on a beach — where the hell are we?”
Fresh off his jump and to her on the beach, Chris said, “I’m so happy to be on the ground. Seriously, I’d rather eat a sheep’s anus any day than do that again.’
All Stars: (LR) Radio presenter Chris, ITV news anchor and Loose Women presenter Charlene White, former footballer Jill Scott, former Love Island star Olivia Attwood and comedian Babatunde Aleshe were the first five stars to perform
As stars like Boy George and Chris Moyles began their jungle journey, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly confirmed two extra arrivals will be at camp and poked fun at Tory MP Matt Hancock.
Viewers at home were delighted with the hit show’s comeback, admitting it felt like “normal service has resumed” after filming returned to Australia after two years in North Wales.
Fans of the show were thrilled to see the Queensland scenes, and many took to Twitter to express their delight.
Setting Sail: And and Dec were seen arriving by boat to salute the stars during the opening episode
One person wrote: “I’m a celebrity back in Australia, COVID is officially over. Unreal.’
Another person wrote: “I’m a star get me out of here, back on our screens and back to Australia. It’s back to normal,” while another shared, “That was brilliant, really enjoyed the first of the new series of I’m a Celebrity. I really missed not being from Australia. Anyway, #TeamGeorge wins!!’
Meanwhile, someone else shared, “So glad I’m a star back in Australia and happy it’s back on TV Ant and Dec the best,” while another person wrote, “Never should have thought I would be like this I’m happy to see I’m a celebrity after two years away from Australia but the altitude scares me, I was petrified on the cable car in Dubrovnik.”
New friend: She got to choose one of her competitors for a VIP dinner at the villa, with Olivia choosing radio DJ Chris