Ant McPartlin sparked alarm among I’m A Celebrity viewers just minutes into Sunday night’s episode, after fans noticed something noticeably off about the beloved presenter — prompting many to beg ITV bosses to step in.
Ant, 50, returned to screens alongside longtime co-host Declan Donnelly, also 50, with their trademark humour and energy. But early into the show, viewers quickly flooded X (formerly Twitter) with concern as Ant’s voice sounded unusually husky and strained during a live segment introducing Lisa Riley’s trial.
Sensing the moment, Dec jokingly patted Ant on the back to clear his throat, laughing:
“Cough it up, son!”
Ant fired back in jest, pretending to shove him over the rail:
“I’ll push you over there in a minute!”
But while the pair laughed it off, fans at home were far from relaxed.
Messages poured in within minutes:
“Poor Ant’s voice doesn’t sound right at all.”
“He sounds really unwell.”
“Someone get him a Lemsip!”
“Honey and lemon, please — urgently!”
Some even questioned whether the presenter needed immediate medical help.
The concern came amid an emotional episode that also saw comedian Eddie Kadi become the second contestant voted out of the jungle, landing in the bottom two alongside Vogue Williams. When Ant and Dec confirmed Eddie had received the fewest votes, fans were left devastated.
Many argued Eddie was one of the most underrated campmates, insisting Vogue or Kelly Brook should have gone instead.
Visibly emotional, Eddie reflected on his journey as he crossed the iconic bridge and reunited with pal Deji Akinyemi, later telling Ant and Dec:
“I feel like I’ve been in there a year. It’s changed my life. Coming from Congo and seeing the rainforest again, I’ve felt what my grandparents lived through — joy even with nothing.”
Earlier in the episode, Shona and Lisa enjoyed their first morning as leader and deputy, waking up in comfort in the treehouse. Meanwhile, Eddie nervously took charge of cooking the rice.
But disaster struck when he wandered off mid-cook. Kelly soon smelled burning and joked:
“I watched him put it on… I had a feeling it was going to be crispy.”
The rice arrived charred, prompting Jack to quip:
“It’s Eddie’s first race — he’s warming up.”
Tensions also flared around the fire as Vogue struggled with camp duties, with Ruby whispering to Ginge:
“She’s destroyed it. She doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
When Vogue snapped back, Ginge grinned:
“Absolutely clueless.”
Later, Shona returned clutching a laminate and nervously confessed contraband butter had been found. As punishment, she was given a brutal choice: step down as leader or lose two stars. She chose to resign — and Aitch dramatically tossed her leaf crown into the fire.
A vote for a new leader followed, with Ruby winning by a landslide.
Her declaration was clear:
“No more Mrs Nice Guy!”
She instantly issued playful orders — naming Shona as her footstool, Aitch her entertainer, and Ginge her dancer — setting the stage for yet another shift in jungle power.
Between Ant’s worrying on-air moment, Eddie’s tearful exit, and the camp’s growing tensions, Sunday night’s episode delivered one of the most emotionally charged nights of the series so far.