I'm A Celebrity rating figures revealed and the hit ITV show beats BBC rival Strictly Come Dancing by a HUGE number

REVEREND RICHARD COLES

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! made its highly-anticipated return on Sunday night and the staggering number of fans that tuned in has been revealed.

A mᴀssive 9million viewers watched Ant and Dec’s return to ITV making it the number one entertainment show of 2024 on any channel so far.

The launch episode of I’m A Celebrity, which saw Coleen Rooney, Oti Mabuse and Danny Jones enter the jungle, has already beaten all episodes of Strictly Come Dancing so far this year.

Strictly and I’m A Celeb have been in a ratings battle throughout their 20-year histories.

But Strictly’s first live show in September saw its ratings plummet as the BBC show recorded a loss of one million viewers, a drop from 7.3million in last year to just 6.7million this year.

A mᴀssive 9million viewers tuned in for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! return this week to ITV making it the number one entertainment show of 2024 on any channel so far; pictured Ant and Dec

Strictly and I’m A Celeb have been in a ratings battle throughout their 20-year histories but Strictly’s first live show in September saw its ratings plummet from 7.3million in last year to just 6.7million this year; pictured Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman

Despite Strictly’s rating increasing to 8.1million for the results show in Blackpool last week, it is still just under one million short from the I’m A Celeb launch night which took place on the same day.

ITV are thrilled by the rating figures and an ITV insider told The Mail: ‘All they care about is beating Strictly this year. That’s their number one goal.

‘If they do that, they’ll be happy. And, of course, getting more viewers than last year, but that’s been the same every time.’

The source continued: ‘GK Barry is considered this year’s secret weapon, there’s hope all around that she will bring in a whole new younger audience for the show and hike up the viewing figures.’

The new series of I’m A Celebrity kicked off on Sunday night, with Coleen Rooney, Danny Jones, Tulisa, Jane Moore, Dean McCullough, and Oti Mabuse skydiving into camp.

Meanwhile, Barry McGuigan, GK Barry, Alan Halsall, Coleen, and Melvin Odoom waited at the beach for the other five campmates to join them before taking on a boat challenge.

And just as the campmates have been settling in, Love Island bombshell Maura Higgins is to make a huge arrival alongside Revered Richard Coles.

Maura turned Love Island upside down in 2019 as a bombshell contestant and her unfiltered fiery antics led to that year being the most-watched series in the show’s history.

The launch episode of I’m A Celebrity, which saw Coleen Rooney , Oti Mabuse and Danny Jones enter the jungle, has already beaten all episodes of Strictly Come Dancing so far this year; pictured Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola

An ITV insider told The Mail: ‘All they care about is beating Strictly this year. That’s their number one goal. If they do that, they’ll be happy. And, of course, getting more viewers than last year, but that’s been the same every time’

And just as the campmates have been settling in, Love Island bombshell Maura Higgins is to make a huge arrival alongside Revered Richard Coles

Now as she makes a late arrival tonight and warns viewers, ‘You’re not ready,’ even more viewers could be tuning into the ITV show.

A TV source told MailOnline: ‘At the beginning, everyone thought it was going to be Coleen or GK Barry that was the hook for this series, but it appears it’s going to be Maura.

‘She’s got that perfect ‘second wave’ energy and it’s so funny she’s coming in with a Reverend, it’s going to be amazing.

‘Firecracker energy is what’s needed in the camp right now as they all seem to be getting on a bit too well…

‘There are a lot of strong women in there so the race for Queen of the Jungle is going to be a tough one, especially now that she’s [Maura] in the mix.’

I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP

OTI MABUSE

Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt

AGE: 34

OCCUPATION: Professional dancer

FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.

DANNY JONES

Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: McFly singer

FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.

He is also a coach on The Voice UK.

BARRY MCGUIGAN

Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle

AGE: 63

OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer

FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight тιтles from 1985 to 1986.

GK BARRY

GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women

AGE: 25

OCCUPATION: TikTok star

FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.

DEAN MCCULLOUGH

ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp

AGE: 32

OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ

FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.

Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.

JANE MOORE

Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Journalist

FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.

She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.

Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.

MELVIN ODOOM

Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021

AGE: 44

OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter

FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.

He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.

COLEEN ROONEY

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: WAG

FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.

ALAN HALSALL

Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street

AGE: 42

OCCUPATION: Actor

FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.

Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.

TULISA