★★★★★ 0/5

Never mind the celebrities, it’s all about Robert Irwin…

Frankie who? Tristan who? Candice who? Nah. There was only one star in the jungle last night, and he absolutely smashed it.

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The first 11 celebrities entered the jungle in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here last night, but did anybody notice them alongside the biggest celebrity of them all -brand spanking new co-host Robert Irwin?

His is the casting coup of the year, giving all the feels alongside the utterly seasoned Julia Morris. No mean feat.

Irwin’s natural charisma shone through the screen effortlessly building the jeopardy, offering assurance to frazzled stars, and beaming throughout. There was not a hint of nerves -rather he rises to the occasion with all the boundless authenticity of his father.

Whether in the recorded challenges, or live from the treehouse, the young Irwin smashed it.

Having grown up on television, largely on Animal Planet, it should come as no surprise.

Meanwhile the 11 stars include:

  • Malcom in The Middle‘s Frankie Muniz
  • Studio 10‘s Tristan MacManus
  • Ironwoman Candice Warner
  • MasterChef‘s Khanh Ong
  • AFL champ Peter Daicos
  • Love Island‘s Callum Hole
  • UK comedian Stephen K. Amos
  • Big Brother contestant Skye Wheatley
  • Biggest Loser trainer Michelle Bridges
  • Paralympian Ellic Cole
  • The Bachelor‘s Brittany Hockley

Their first challenges involved find star pieces hidden in creature-infested boxes, unscrewing stars under water, finding stars in an electrocuted train carriage and being dropped through a trapdoor from a huge platform suspended 1.9km over a ravine. It all ended with celebs meeting in camp and successfully securing their first meal.

Yet to appear is the “Gold Logie winning National Treasure.”

Khanh and Candice were chosen for tonight’s trial, 7:30pm on 10.

16 Responses

  1. I would normally roll my eyes at the collection of so called celebrities this show rolls out each year and while there’s the usual smattering of channel 10 personalities and ex reality contestants, I was quite surprised to see a couple of genuine celebrities in Frankie Muniz and Stephen K Amos. I’ve heard of 8 of the 11 contestants noted above, which is high percentage for me with this show. I didn’t watch it last night, I stopped watching the show a number of seasons ago, but happy to hear that Robert Irwin seems to have been a hit. I wish him all the best.

  2. I’m surprised about Ellie Cole in the jungle, given that she’s a former Paralympian. Her partner recently gave birth to a son. I assume that she will do some hosting duties on Nine’s Paralympic Coverage later this year?
    A Gold Logie National treasure – I am not sure about 4x winner Lisa McCune as she appeared on ABC’s Planet Lulin. I’m not sure about Rowena Wallace, but I will probably pencil in Georgie Parker.

  5. A solid first episode and Im pleasantly surprised how easy Robert made it look slipping in to the hosting position. This may give the show a few more years and hopefully TEN will look for a fresh new female host to join him in the future. With the younger viewers Robert will bring it seems the natural progression to prolong this franchise.

  6. Yep, the 20 year old was fantastic, and I think his fresh, sparkling performance helped lift Julia as well. It also gave an old show some needed newness and freshness. Not a bad group of celebrities either. I don’t watch reality TV, but this season of Celebrity will be an exception!

  7. I think Robert did a brilliant job last night. Easy to forget he’s only 20 as he holds himself with the maturity, warmth, charisma and empathy of someone well beyond his years and he’s a natural and it’s not put on. To top it all off he has a brilliant natural sense of comedic timing.
    Chemistry between him and Julia is lovely to watch. It’s not forced and you can tell they actually like each other.
    Whoever wrote the lines in the promo song is a genius and got it soooo right. TV hosting (or anything in front of a camera) is his destiny and he was definitely born for this. Whatever “it” is, he has it in bucket loads. If he was that good last night, just imagine how incredible he’s going to become the more he does it.
    I’m already a fan of this show and watch every year anyway but I think Robert is going to breathe fresh air into it and add a revived energy to it. Dr Chris who? Well done Robert!!!

  9. Fantastic first episode, Robert was great, he makes it seem so easy he is a great host, they certainly chose the right ones to do the right part of the trials already with the screamers in the right spots. Was very surprised to see Frankie Muniz, a great get.

  12. A really nice surprise seeing Frankie Muniz and happy that others recognised him. He should be very good value. The only thing that put me off was the terrible screaming from Candice and Skye in the first challenge. It was really doing my head in! Robert is a star, I think he could work with anyone and make it look easy!!

  13. Robert was great & really in his element. Gees I didn’t even recognise Khanh from MasterChef. He used to have long flowing hair & now he’s shaved it all off. I vaguely remember Skye from Big Brother.

  14. Completely agree David. Robert & Julia make the perfect team. So many highlights like walking over the “7 host skeleton” on their way in. Outstanding first night.

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