I’m A Celebrity South Africa fans fumed ‘that’s really unfair!’ as Harry Redknapp was left in a ‘brutal’ predicament ahead of the first elimination.
The former football manager and player, 79, won the ITV show’s regular edition back in 2018, being crowned King of the Jungle.
He entered the South Africa camp as a late arrival earlier this week, alongside 2014 alum Jimmy Bullard.
The pair – dubbed Kings – were made heads of rival teams, with Harry’s Lions facing off against Jimmy’s Rhinos.
It all came down to an intense eating trial between Harry and Jimmy, 47, with the winner securing a safari trip and a luxurious banquet for their group.
Both successfully endured five grim dishes – eating the likes of wild boar penis, fermented tofu, impala eyes, kudu intestines and worms and pig anus.
I’m A Celebrity viewers fumed as Harry Redknapp was thrown a brutal twist ahead of the first elimination
The former football manager and player, 79, faced off against Jimmy Bullard, 47, in an eating trial in Wednesday’s episode
Although to ensure an outright winner, Ant and Dec revealed the pair would face a tiebreaker.
They received a revolting concoction of fermented fish and stinky tofu – with the first to drink it entirely being victorious.
In the process, Jimmy seemed confident while Harry revealed he had never been good at downing drinks.
As Jimmy managed to finish his drink within seconds, his Rhinos team were declared the winners.
But as the teams left the Bushtucker Trial area, the presenters asked Harry to remain behind.
They revealed the time had come for one of his teammates to leave camp for good – and the decision would be made by Harry himself.
It means either Ashley Roberts, Scarlett Moffatt, David Haye, Sir Mo Farah or Seann Walsh will be first to leave the South Africa camp.
Taking to social media, viewers were far from impressed with this twist as one wrote on X: ‘Making Harry choose who goes is nasty work.’
Another commented: ‘So brutal that Harry has to choose.’
A third chimed in: ‘That is actually really unfair, I wonder if that means the first to go home will be on the losing team as well.’
A fourth agreed: ‘Poor Harry man. That’s horrible.’
Meanwhile, some fans shared their hopes that Harry will choose former boxer David Haye, 45, to depart the camp – following previous polarising remarks.
One posted: ‘Harry, be even more of a hero and get rid of David PLEASE.’
Another shared: ‘If he picks anyone other than David Haye we riot!!!’
Viewers will have to tune in tonight (April 16) to find out the outcome of Harry’s decision.
Unlike the Australia-set series, South Africa was almost entirely pre-recorded in late 2025.
During the gruelling trial, Harry admitted he had never been good at downing drinks, which proved to be his downfall
Harry must choose one of his Lions teammates – David Haye, Seann Walsh, Ashley Roberts, Scarlett Moffatt or Sir Mo Farah – to be first to leave camp
However, viewers still get to have a say as a live final later this month will ultimately crown the winner.
Before last night’s challenge even began, Harry appeared sentimental as he revealed he was the first manager to sign Jimmy who was ‘just a kid’.
Jimmy was signed for West Ham United, for a fee of £30,000 in 1999. He did not manage to break into the team and went on to play for Peterborough United in 2001.
Viewers watching at home were stunned by the huge portion sizes as they wrote on X: ‘Harry is just so unbothered, I aspire to be that calm’;
‘This eating challenge looks absolutely awful’;
‘Why are the portions so big? They won’t sit good inside’;
‘This eating trial is unreal’ and ‘The portion sizes in these challenges are mental’
‘They’ve really stepped up the eating trials’.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa continues Thursday on ITV1 and ITVX.
