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I'm A Celebrity stars evacuated as gales and torrential rain batter jungle camp

TV was forced to evacuate the I’m A Celebrity contestants yesterday after torrential rain, hailstone and gales battered the camp, prompting fears for the safety of the stars.

Producers made the decision to evacuate the camp after it was deluged by gusts of 95km/h and 2 to 3cm hailstones.

On Wednesday around 52mm of rain fell in 25 minutes and even local residents in nearby towns were also advised to seek shelter 'preferably indoors and never under trees'.

While there are occasional blue skies, storms are frequently lashing the jungle and weather warnings for severe storms have been issued by the local Bureau Of Meteorology almost every day since the show began.

Sources have said the unpredictable weather could even threaten the series in the long term.

The stars were evacuated to the Bush Telegraph area – which is where they record the daily personal video diaries.

This is on higher ground and has a wooden hut structure offering protection from the elements.

The wild conditions prompted Esther Rantzen to raise fears about the health and safety standards in camp.

When asked if she was coping with the rain, the former That’s Life presenter said: “We’re living in a rain forest. It’s called a rain forest because it rains. I assumed it would rain. I assumed it would drench us and that mud would be up to our knees.

'However, I’m not so sure about the health and safety in the camp.

'The little creek in our first base got more and more of a torrent in it – and it rose higher and higher. I think they evacuated the camp just in time. I think we might have been swept away if they had not.’

Producers have admitted that the site where the camp is set is one that is prone to flooding.

Earlier this year area was completely destroyed by flash floods with trees uprooted.

A show source said: 'The camps had to be merged early because of the flooding and Bushtucker Trials are being juggled around because of poor conditions. Now we have had to evacuate the contestants.

'The weather is playing havoc and if it continues then that does put us in a difficult position.'

Source: Daily Mail