I’m A Celebrity 2024’s line-up is the best ever and could be biggest series yet – and not for the reason you think

ITV's flagship show felt dangerously close to being renamed 'I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Famous (Again)' after being overrun by shamed politicians and TV has-beens - but I'm hopeful 2024's line-up could make this series the biggest and best yet.

For two decades, Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly's elite reality series has entertained millions - torturing famous faces with their worst nightmares while living on rice and beans. 

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In years gone by we've seen the likes of Kim Kardashian's superstar step-dad Caitlyn Jenner (formerly known as Bruce) dishing the dirt on OJ Simpson Down Under as she earned every penny of her six-figure pay deal.

But we've since grown used to controversial characters (ex-MP Matt Hancock), retired sportsmen (Frankie Dettori) and the relatives of famous stars (Britney Spears' sister Jamie Lynn) using the jungle as a desperate bid to relaunch their careers.

In 2022, all eyes were on sacked Health Secretary Matt who was caught on camera breaking his own Covid social distancing rules by having an affair with a close aide.

Despite being paid £320,000 to reveal all, his pathetic and overly-rehearsed line disappointed.

“I messed up and I fessed up. I resigned and it’s no excuse but I fell in love, right?” he said to his jungle campmates as he attempted to move on from the scandal and launch a new TV career.

He failed to deliver explosive bombshells like legendary campmate Lady Colin Campbell - and instead fell flat despite the hefty pay cheque (like Noel Edmonds).

By purposely keeping a lid on the whole affair and brushing off any further controversy, he failed to live up to his hype.

It's been glaringly obvious the problem with casting the likes of Marvin Humes, Charlene White and Danny Miller in recent series.

Gone are the days of unfiltered fun from Katie Price and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, who could say and do whatever they pleased.

Now, celebrities are terrified of being cancelled. 

Big stars daring to let loose, gossip or even risk offending, offer up the best television experience fans could wish for - and I believe this year's line-up promises to do just that.

That's because the majority of the cast (McFly's Danny Jones, Strictly's Oti Mabuse, Coronation Street's Alan Halsall and writer Rev Richard Coles) already have massive careers behind them.

Unlike Loose Women’s Charlene, who returned to continue presenting ITV news after finishing second to last, there's a chance of getting some real hard-hitting opinions.

With millions already in the bank, a solid job and/or family to return to, these celebs are not in dire need of a comeback.

Take Coleen Rooney for instance - England legend Wayne Rooney's long-suffering wife who has stepped out of his shadow in recent years.

After 'Wagatha Christie', Coleen has secured the biggest deal in the I'm A Celeb's history.

The 38-year-old Wag’s fee is understood to be way beyond Nigel Farage’s £1.5million last year.

The mum-of-four had already picked up £3million from streaming giant Disney+ for exclusive rights to a three-part documentary series about the court case.

A short stint in the jungle that involves ruffling a few feathers and enjoying a break from Wayne and their four kids for some extra spending money sounds like a good deal to me.