We’ve officially seen the last of Julia Morris and Robert Irwin in the jungle for a while. Last week, news of I’m a Celebrity…Get me Out of Here being “rested” for 2027 broke out, causing major upset among fans. While there’s speculation online that the network bidding war over Robert Irwin in Australia and the United States played a big factor, what’s certain is that viewing habits are changing. We’re less inclined to watch shows that give celebrities a “redemption arc” and are more interested in shows about “social conflict” (hello, Married at First Sight).
This is evident in the ratings with the 2026 season of MAFS dominating Channel Nine, drawing in roughly 2.76 million viewers per episode.
Meanwhile, the 2026 season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! averaged between 500,000 and 570,000 viewers per episode and saw a decline in viewership, while MAFS has only gotten stronger, with an increase of 180,000 average viewers per episode between 2025 and 2026.
Jaimie Bloch, Clinical Director of MindMovers Psychology, told WHO why we’re turning away from long-time Aussie TV favourites, and what television formats we can expect to see a lot more of moving forward.
“Shows like Married at First Sight tap into very fundamental aspects of human psychology,” Jaimie told WHO. “People are naturally drawn to social conflict because our brains are wired to monitor relationships, group dynamics, betrayal, status, and emotional threat. Reality TV amplifies these dynamics in an exaggerated but familiar setting.”
Is I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! officially cancelled?
Last week, speculation broke out about the axing of beloved Channel 10 staple I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!.
A Network 10 spokesperson told WHO that the rumours are true, at least for the coming year.
“We have made the decision to rest I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2027 as we focus on offering our audience a range of content on all platforms,” the spokesperson confirmed. “We look forward to working with Julia Morris and Robert Irwin on other projects.”
Both hosts Robert Irwin and Julia Morris have commented on the show’s cancellation for the 2027 season.
“I want to express what an absolute privilege it has been to work on this show for the past three seasons,” Robert Irwin wrote in a statement distributed by Channel 10.
“I grew up watching this show as so many Aussies do, so to be part of the fantastic team that make this series a reality felt like a dream come true.”
“We have had the honour of sharing incredible stories and create a platform to shine a light on amazing charities that our celebrities have supported along the way. And to do it all alongside my co-host, and friend, Julia Morris made it a truly life-changing experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Julia Morris echoed a similar sentiment.
“I’m A Celebrity and our whole jungle family who make this show have made it the best working experience of my lifetime. I have loved every moment and will be forever grateful to Beverley and the whole team at Network 10 for not only believing in this show but nurturing it for 12 years. And to our jungle family watching from home, we love you.”
Audiences want ‘less filtered’ and ‘more unpredictable’ reality tv stars
Despite these much-loved hosts and a solid 12 year run, I’m A Celeb just wasn’t doing it for viewers anymore, with the ratings numbers as proof.
Jaimie Bloch told WHO that it’s not just viewers desire for drama and dysfunction – like what MAFS provides – but also this “growing fatigue” in audiences towards celebrities, making shows like I’m A Celeb or SAS less and less attractive.
“Research in media psychology suggests audiences aren’t rejecting redemption narratives altogether, but they are becoming far less tolerant of ones that feel rushed, overly polished, or designed purely to “clean up” a character’s image,” Jaimie explained.
“Viewers seem much more drawn to morally messy, conflict-driven stories where growth feels genuinely difficult, emotionally uncomfortable, and tied to lasting consequences, rather than neatly packaged transformation arcs that erase the past.
“I think a good example of this is the latest season of Traitors that did very well, and the redemption arc and narratives carried over into social media and after the show.”
So, while some celebrity reality TV shows can work, it has to appear authentic enough that audiences want to reshare and relive the episodes online.
However, this format is hard to crack amidst the growing “fatigue” and unrelatability of celebrities in the world today.
“There does appear to be growing fatigue with traditional celebrity culture, particularly when audiences perceive celebrities as overly managed, privileged, or disconnected from ordinary life,” Jaimie said.
“Social media has changed the relationship between audiences and fame. People now expect constant access and authenticity, which paradoxically makes celebrity branding feel more performative.
“Audiences may now feel more invested in reality formats featuring non-celebrities because they appear less filtered and more unpredictable.”
‘Traditional formats’ are no longer successful
The “resting” of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! not only shows audiences’ appetite for on-screen drama between unknown faces, but also the desire to feel included in the show itself, rather than have a detached viewing experience.
“I think it suggests modern audiences increasingly want television to function as a live social experience rather than passive viewing,” Jamie said
“Shows that generate immediate online reactions, memes, commentary, and real-time audience participation tend to feel more culturally relevant. In contrast, slower or more traditional formats can struggle to maintain engagement in an always-connected media environment.”
Maybe there are plans for another network to pick up the much-loved show, but in the meantime, reality TV is scrambling to keep up with the constantly changing appetites and needs of its audiences, and I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! was the first on the chopping block.
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