Everyone’s favourite ITV reality series kicked off last night (17 November) seeing the likes of Coleen Rooney, Melvin Odoom and Tulisa swap their luxury lifestyles to spend the next couple of weeks living amongst Australia’s finest creepy crawlies.

However, there was one noticeable absence which caught the attention of viewers.

Where was former Love Islander Maura Higgins?

Despite being announced as part of the official line-up, fans were surprised to see that Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles did not appear in any of the promotional material.

Eagle-eyed fans were left even more perplexed after seeing the updates from the 33-year-old influencer recently enjoying a trip to Las Vegas – leaving people speculate if there had been a last minute change of plan or the pair were simply late arrivals.

However fear not, as it would appear that Higgins and Rev Coles will be making their way into the jungle very soon.

Regarding Higgins’ late entrance to the show, a report from MailOnline claimed that an ITV source said: “She will be arriving this week, the brand trip was always part of the schedule as Maura had agreed to it and it fit into her arrival dates for the Jungle.”

Meanwhile the rest of the campmates are currently settling into their new home, with last night’s premiere seeing musician Danny Jones and Barry McGuigan taking on the ‘Mausoleum of Misery’ bushtucker trial – with Jones ending up having an unwanted guest slither into his shorts.

Reverend Richard Coles is another late entrant (Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Hearst UK)

Meanwhile Rooney was faced with her first ‘Wagatha Christie’ joke just moments after making her entrance onto the show when fellow campmate Dean McCullough chose her as his entrance partner over fellow radio presenter Odoom.

“Melvin, I’m so, so sorry,” he said to his colleague before running off into the distance with Rooney, adding: “Wagatha Christie you’re coming with meeeee.”

Wonder how many time we’ll hear that nickname this series.

This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group might make a commission on anything purchased.

How to watch I’m A Celebrity ad-free

This year, Coleen Rooney is reportedly set to become the joint-highest paid contestant after Nigel Farage was said to have made it out of the I’m A Celebrity jungle with £1.5 million in last year’s competition.

N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos, Loose Women’s Jane Moore and McFly star Danny Jones are amongst some of the familiar faces we’re expecting to see in the first episode of the 2024 series.

“I have been in the public eye for over 20 years now and people take what they want from it,” Rooney said ahead of the show.

“I do think people will get a better idea of what kind of person I am.”

While I’m A Celeb fans will wait to see how the mum-of-four gets on, Rooney might not receive her money because of a little-know rule.

According to the Metro, celebrities can’t just jump in and out of the jungle and still get paid.

Coleen Rooney will be joining up with her campmates shortly (ITV)

This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group might make a commission on anything purchased.

The outlet reports that contestants must stay in the competition for at least 72 hours to receive their earnings.

Notably, not all them are getting paid the same amount, as they generally receive anything between £30,000 and £900,000, according to reports.

Unless you’re Rooney or Farage, that is.

The N-Dubz singer is heading to the jungle (ITV)

After the line-up dropped, one fan commented: “Wow, I’ve actually heard of six of them, that’s a higher number than usual.”

While another added: “Blimey, I am actually aware of the entire cast, except GK Barry, whoever she is. This should be a bloody good year!”

“I actually know a couple of these, and not just the older ones! Just putting it out there now, Danny for the win! #kingdanny!!” someone else wrote.

How to watch I’m A Celebrity ad-free

I’m A Celeb fans can watch the show ad-free by signing up for a free trial of ITVX Premium here. It’s £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year thereafter.

But while the likes of Coleen Rooney, Tulisa, and Danny Jones might be donning the classic red socks, there has been a slight tweak to what the celebrities are wearing.

And to be honest, after years of being so used to it, it seems a little odd to look at the back of their shirts now.

Yep, while the stars still have their names plastered on the back of the blue T-shirts and beige shirts, there is no longer a phone number.

Instead of listening to Ant and Dec reel off all the celebrities’ names and the phone number to ring to vote for them to do a trial, they’ll just be telling us to head to an app.

No more shouting to remind us to ring the ‘short number’ on our mobile if we don’t want Rooney to be sent home.

I can’t lie, it always felt nostalgic to hear that. But I guess we’re all old now, and technology has taken the lead.

One user wrote on X: “All of the t-shirts having full government names on the back rather than their first names and a phone number is sending me.”

Another pointed out: “Feels weird that no one has a phone number on their back this year.”

“No phone lines to vote this year then, I’m gonna miss hearing ‘The short number’ being said,” others echoed.

The end of an era. (ITV)

Many are a bit gutted by that, writing: “So 2024 is the year they’ve finally got rid of phone voting… who’s gonna shout call the SHORT NUMBER now.”

Another disappointed fan said: “WHERE are the phone numbers on the back of their shirts? I know the app exists, but you never mess with a 22-year tradition!”

Well, say goodbye to tradition lads, phone voting is gone.

A show source told LADbible: “Over the years, the number of people voting by phone has declined, and it’s become a very small proportion of votes cast. To simplify the message to our viewers, we have chosen to only have free online (via the app) voting this year.”

This year, viewers will get five free votes on the app, and while it’s been app-only for the Trial vote for years, 2024 is also app-only for the ‘vote for your favourite’ when we get down to the nitty gritty of saving them.

This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group might make a commission on anything purchased.

How to watch I’m A Celebrity ad-free

I’m A Celeb fans can watch the show ad-free by signing up for a free trial of ITVX Premium here. It’s £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year thereafter.