Grumble in the jungle: Record heat 'sparks health fears for I'm A Celebrity stars'... as pals beg Gemma Collins not to quit show
It's not even a full 24 hours since the latest series of I'm A Celebrity... Get me Out Of Here! has debuted, but it's already shaping up to be one of the most dramatic outings yet.
As a new crop of celebrities, including Melanie Sykes, Michael Buerk and Tinchy Stryder, settle into the Australian jungle, bosses of the ITV show are now reportedly concerned about their safety, thanks to record temperatures.
According to the Daily Mirror, Sunday's 45C-degree heat - making it the hottest day in November since 1968 - have left a number of the stars feeling weak, prompting a call for extra water supplies.
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Heated situation: Stars on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, including Melanie Sykes, are reportedly under careful watch by show bosses, who are worried about the record temperatures sweeping Australia
A source said: 'the celebrities are already in meltdown and we've barely started. This will be the toughest series ever to survive. We are on red alert to make sure no one becomes seriously ill.'
Added another source: 'The camp has had the worst possible start with freak high temperatures. It has made everyone tired and weak.'
Meanwhile, TOWIE star Gemma Collins appears to be going through the toughest time of all the contestants as she has already been shown breaking down on a number of occasions.
Bumpy road: While the show launched on Sunday, it has already proved to be a dramatic few hours
And after having a panic attack over the prospect of a helicopter ride - forcing bosses to find an alternative route to get her into the jungle - Gemma was seen threatening to make an early exit from the jungle.
And as she faces tough conditions after being voted into the Celebrity Slammer alongside such contestants as Vicki Michelle, Craig Charles, and Nadia Forde, Gemma's pals are backing her to stay in the competition.
Her best friend Alana Kane, who will meet Gemma on her exit from the jungle, told The Sun: 'I hope I don't have to book my flight to come out earlier but I think she'll do this. Gem can go all the way.'
Off to a crying start: Gemma Collins appeared to be having the most trouble settling in to her surroundings
She also has a supporter in former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, a 2012 runner-up on the show.
'I think Gemma will be quite entertaining during a trial,' said Ashley. 'She seems at first glance to be quite girly and not want to get too dirty.'
However, it appeared that food was going to be the new issue as she learned she was to survive on porridge for the next few days.
Please don't go: Gemma's pals have been urging her to stay on the show, after she threatened to quit
'If we don't get a treat in a few days, I am going to kill myself,' she told her fellow contestants.
Despite her drama-filled start to the show, Gemma seemed to become accustomed to her bleak new surroundings as the hours passed, and even came up with a way to make their porridge rations taste better - by frying them up as patties.
Pleased with her culinary master-stroke, she beamed in the Bush Telegraph as she quipped: 'I think I got the team’s confidence up that I am useful for something. The whole chopper incident is a distant memory now. They’re not bothered.'
Life behind bars: Gemma is one of the unlucky stars chosen to be put in the Celebrity Slammer
Cool, calm and collected: Veteran broadcaster Michael Buerk has been taking the jungle in his stride
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