More rumbles in the jungle

Popular hosts take more personalities to sample a few ‘delights’ of the bush in another hellish trip to Africa, writes Seanna Cronin

THE new season of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! is off and running, and there are still plenty of surprises in store.

Ten’s celebrity torture show, which takes famous people out of their comfort zones for our entertainment, is now in its fourth season, dropping some of our biggest and baddest personalities into the South African jungle.

Hosts Julia Morris and Chris Brown reflect on three years of live TV and why they keep coming back for more.

Q: What have you learned after three seasons of relocating to South Africa?

Julia: I have learned that I you can never really be prepared for the jungle. It tests you all day every day. It is intense and manic and draining and wonderful. Nothing can prepare you for that.

Chris: One thing I wish I’d done from the start is to learn to get to bed at 7pm. We’re up at 2.30am every morning, so that means going to bed when it’s still light.

Q: Any packing tips you wished you knew back before season one?

Julia: I worked out there is no need for fancy frocks. There are so many for me to choose from when I get there. The rest of the time it’s shorts and tees.

Chris: I always bring electrolytes because you sweat all day. I also wear a singlet underneath my shirts because it’s already 35C in the morning.

Q: If you weren’t a host, would you accept an invitation to the jungle?

Julia: I am not sure I could take it. The food alone would have me ready to kill. I admire everyone with the guts to go in.

Q: How close have you two become?

Chris: Over the course of three years we’ve become really good friends because there’s a certain element of trust there in the live show. We’ve always had good chemistry and had good banter, but it’s the friendship side that’s certainly increased over time. We know all about each other’s private lives.

Q: Is there anything you wish the celebrities would do or stop doing?

Julia: I always want the celebrities to get on with bringing up subjects they feel passionate about. It’s such a unique opportunity to let Australia know how you feel about things.

Chris: I wish they would take better care of the long drop toilet. Every single day we walk straight past it and it’s never managed well. It always smells horrific. On the flip side, I love it when they try to get away with stuff – that classic Aussie defiance of authority.

Q: After three seasons, are you worried about the celebrities getting too savvy?

Julia: Our celebrities can think they have the game sewn up but living the experience is very different to watching it. Stamina helps.

Q: What’s your African spirit animal?

Julia: I am the Hippo. They are always smiling, protect their young and look harmless but are the most dangerous animal alive. Watch your back.