INSIDE MEDIA EXCLUSIVE: Big changes for I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here after budget cuts

7NEWS

23-05-2025

BUDGET CUTS FOR I'M A CELEBRITY GET ME OUT OF HERE
Expect big changes for the next season of Channel 10's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here (IAC). INSIDE MEDIA can exclusively reveal the reality TV show will not be live, but rather pre-recorded.
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It turns out the budget for the show has been drastically cut, which is why this decision has been made.
Pre-recording the show means a smaller production team in South Africa as a post-production crew will not be required. When the show is live, crew will work on a 24-hour turnaround with live hostings beamed from location.
INSIDE MEDIA understands the crew is not happy about the changes as the schedule does not allow for any days off, meaning they will be working to a gruelling production timeline. Previously, most crew would get weekends off when the show was not airing.
Earlier this year, it was revealed Channel 10 show three different endings ahead of the IAC finale. This allowed crew to head home a few days early, saving on accommodation and crew costs. Once Sam Thaiday was chosen as the winner by the public, 10 aired that version.
Next year, it must be assumed that public voting will play no part in deciding the winner.
The LIVE factor has always been a key part of IAC and will sorely be missed in the 2026 edition of the show, although INSIDE MEDIA understands the show will still be filmed in South Africa.
Channel 10 has been contacted for comment.
In 2023, Network 10 recorded a $322.1 million loss in the 12 months to December 31 (no financials are available after this date as yet). With declining ratings and revenue, there's no doubt the network is looking for cost savings across the board and going LIVE is an added expense those in control obviously believe they can live without.
Don't get Elton John angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry.
It's a lesson the UK Government is learning after the iconic singer went on the attack over plans to exempt technology firms from copyright laws.
'I think the government are just being absolute losers, and I'm very angry about it' Elton John told the BBC (you can see his interview in the video player above).
His comments come after the UK Government rejected proposals from the House of Lords to force AI companies to disclose what material they were using to develop their programmes. The bill would have added transparency requirements to existing legislation, ensuring copyright holders have to give permission for their work to be used.
'They'd be committing theft, thievery on the highest scale. And for young people or for everyone who's creative.
'The fact that AI could run rampant without (permission), you have to ask for approval and you have to have transparency. It's quite simple. If someone wants to use your song, ask, and then you have to have the transparency and how is it being used.'
And he's right. As I reported in a previous edition of INSIDE MEDIA, companies like OpenAI say they need access to copyrighted material as the very future of artificial intelligence hangs in the balance.
And it looks like Sir Elton is ready to fight the government on this one.
'We'll fight all the way. I mean, if it takes going to the court or whatever, we will fight this,' he said.
Every other company has to pay for research and development – they can't just freely use other people's work. Why are AI companies any different?
If they don't have a business model that can't succeed without stealing, then they don't have a successful business model.
YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHO DOES THAT VOICE!
Voice over artists are a special breed of people who get paid to a lot of money to deliver messages to you through ads, reality TV shows, and on hold announcements.
Recently, comedian Darren Sanders met the woman who you might have heard saying 'Welcome to Optus, the number you have dialled has been disconnected'. When Joey Moore did her recognisable line, the live studio audience went crazy.
It's well worth a watch in the video player above.
I've met many voice-over artists through the years, and you would never guess what they actually look like, as very rarely does the voice match the face. It's a specialised craft that AI will find hard to replicate. Yes, AI can say the words, but only a human artist can interpret the meaning and follow direction to enhance what it says on the page.
And no, I'm not an AI Luddite. I believe AI plays an important role – I just also happen to believe that the companies that will make a lot of money from these products shouldn't be able to steal from others to achieve those goals.
You can find more of Darren's interviews and clips on his TikTok page.