I’m A Celebrity viewers were left scratching their heads on Tuesday evening, as show favourites Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly failed to grace the spin-off series Unpacked with their presence.
In an unexpected turn of events, not only did campmate Tulisa fail to show up on the ITV2 program helmed by Joel Dommett, but fans were also taken aback when Ant and Dec were missing in action.
The duo is typically seen on the show shortly after presenting the primary series on ITV1, where they share insights into the jungle’s latest developments and discuss the recent evictee.
Yet, on Tuesday, there was a distinct silence from Joel regarding their absence, leading to viewer confusion as the usual format was abruptly altered.
The puzzlement only deepened moments after Dec broadcasted that voting was closed and would not reopen, which cast doubt on whether Wednesday’s episode would feature an elimination, stirring speculation among the audience.
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Ant and Dec did not make the spin-off show (Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Even though Dec promised “a massive surprise” slated for the reveal on Wednesday’s main show, both he and Ant were conspicuously absent from Unpacked later on. Perplexed fans took to X, clamouring for explanations about the hosts whereabouts, reports the Mirror.
One perplexed viewer exclaimed: “I need answers,” while another one probed: “No Ant and Dec tonight, and no Tulisa… what’s going on? ” Another added to the speculation, noting: “It’s a bit strange that Ant and Dec haven’t had their little chat with Joel like they normally do too.”
Viewers took to social media to question the noticeable absence of Ant and Dec on a recent “I only watch Unpacked for ant and Dec,” show, with one stating: “No Ant and Dec, hmmm very odd.”
Further queries about their whereabouts surfaced as another asked: “Why didn’t Ant and Dec appear?” while yet another chimed in: “Hang on… are Ant and Dec not on Unpacked tonight??”
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The pair had viewers speculating (Image: ITV)
Fans didn’t hold back, with remarks such as: “I only watch Unpacked for ant and Dec,” and more pointedly, “Also where is Ant and Dec?!”
The duo’s absence coincided with speculation from fans regarding the cancellation of a public vote. Dec had teased audiences with a hint about an upcoming surprise, saying: “We are not reopening the vote for tomorrow because we’ve got a massive surprise for them. More will be revealed in tomorrow’s show.”
Intrigue spread online, with one viewer guessing on platform X: “No vote tomorrow because Houdini is returning,” referencing previously eliminated contestant Dean McCullough. Another fan suspected: “The twist is definitely either no one’s out (which I doubt) or camp vote but camp vote kinda seems obvious.”
Aligning with the theories, another said: “What’s this surprise twist? The campers can vote against each other over the normal public vote.”
A fourth comment read: “The big surprise will probably be a free for all head to head and the bottom either go or go up for a quick vote. That’s my prediction anyway.”
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! airs Mondays-Sundays at 9pm on ITV1.