Is ITV’s I’m A Celebrity South Africa final live and can you vote?
Three years since it last aired, I’m A Celebrity South Africa is finally back for a second season.
The ITV series returned on April 6 with a brand new line-up of legendary campmates all hoping for a second chance at being named King or Queen of the Jungle.
This year, the cast includes memorable past contestants, including Gemma Collins, Harry Redknapp and Sir Mo Farah, and fans are already predicting who’ll be frontrunners for the crown.
Speaking in the teaser released by ITV, former Queen Scarlett Moffatt said: ‘Doing this show changed my life. I went in there, and I was 25. I’m a mum now, I’m getting married, and to do this, it just feels really full circle.’
Here’s everything you need to know about the series.
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Is I’m A Celebrity South Africa live?
Unlike I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, the South Africa spin-off, is almost completely pre-recorded. However, one element of the show will be shown live for the first time.
The 2026 South Africa series was filmed in September last year, just a couple of months before the main show returned in Australia.
While this is common knowledge, some fans have expressed major confusion online as they didn’t realise that it was pre-recorded.
Who’s in the cast of I’m A Celebrity South Africa 2026?
‘I’m sorry, how are #ImACeleb gonna have a live final when this was all filmed at the end of last year?’ flissfrost82 wrote on X, while tvreality93 added: ‘How many won’t realise I’m a celebrity is not live tonight then.’
Despite production on the all-stars show taking place over six months ago, the grand finale – which is scheduled for Friday, April 24 – will be live and hosted by Ant and Dec on ITV1, STV and ITVX.
How can there be a live final if it’s already filmed?
Despite the series being pre-recorded, they didn’t shoot the ending as ITV is planning a live finale where the new King or Queen of the Jungle will be crowned.
While the exact details of what the show will look like are a closely guarded secret at the moment, we do know a few details.
I’m A Celebrity fans have the opportunity to attend the final in person in London, as advertised on the free ticket website Applause Store.
We also know that Ant and Dec are hosting and that all the finalists will be in the studio (although we don’t know if that includes the entire cast).
Do the finalists know they’ve won?
The finalists, whoever they may be, do not know if they’ve won at this moment. The winner will be chosen by a public vote due to take place during the final episode.
Why can’t we vote this year?
You can vote for the winner of I’m A Celebrity South Africa 2026, but you can’t vote for the finalists.
As we’ve mentioned, ITV decided to pre-record this season, so instead of the public voting on who does the Bushtucker Trials, it’s left up to the celebs and winning comes down to how they perform in the challenges.
The fate of the campmates is also decided by the celebs as they have to work out which unlucky stars get the boot.
Are Ant and Dec actually in South Africa now?
Despite Ant and Dec’s Instagram feed keeping up the illusion that they are in South Africa, the dynamic duo are (we believe) back in Blighty.
Like the rest of the series, the pair recordered there commentary and clips last year while the celebs endured the ignominy of the jungle.
Where is it filmed?
I’m A Celebrity South Africa is filmed at the world-renowned Kruger National Park.
On the website for South African National Parks, it states: ‘Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, Kruger offers a world-class wildlife experience with unparalleled diversity.
‘It is home to 336 tree species, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds, and 147 mammals, and leads in environmental management techniques.’
On Lonely Planet, it says that the park is ‘so full of wonders you can’t help but be wrapped up in its magic’.
‘Easy to reach, expertly managed and almost uniquely self-drivable, Kruger National Park is one of the world’s great destinations for wildlife viewing.
‘All the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino – are present in the park, together with safari favourites impala, zebra, giraffe, hippos and crocs.’
Who won the last series?
The first series of I’m A Celebrity South Africa aired in 2023, with returning campmates in the cast including Helen Flanagan, Carl Vorderman and Joe Swash.
The inaugural season was won by Myleene Klass, with Jordan Banjo finishing in second place, and Fatima Whitbread finishing third.
After her win, Myleene said: ‘You can’t do it alone… I am blown away at the friendships I’ve come away with.’
Fans celebrated the musician and TV presenter for being a ‘deserving winner’, while another wrote at the time: ‘You are actually superhuman.’
How long will the series be on for?
With I’m A Celebrity South Africa beginning on April 6 and ending on April 24, the latest season will air for just under three weeks.
The series will air on weeknights at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with a break at weekends.
I’m A Celebrity South Africa continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
This article was originally published on April 6, 2026.
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