I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2026 was pre-recorded at the end of last year, so fans are unable to choose who leaves the jungle. The first elimination saw Rachel Hunter sent home after going up against Matt Zukowski in a challenge.
The campmates were split into two teams, yellow and green. Each team were able to nominate one person from the other team to be nominated for elimination, with Cyrell Paule from the green team announcing they had picked Rachel.
“I’m just very cut, and to me, this really showed that the game has changed. Everyone’s out for survival in this right now,” Rachel said.
Gary Sweet from the yellow team then revealed they had picked Matt.
“My heart sunk, it wasn’t the best feeling,” Matt said. “I will fight with every breath and smash out whatever’s put in front of me.”
Rachel and Matt faced a tough elimination challenge at the Elephant Graveyard, which saw them compete in a game of bluff. Basically, each contestant had to guess what coloured card their opponent was holding, without seeing it. And, with the most incorrect guesses, it was Rachel who was the first celeb eliminated from I’m a Celebrity Australia 2026.
Fans slam the new I’m a Celebrity elimination format
Fans flooded the official I’m a Celebrity Australia Instagram to complain about the elimination challenge, making it clear they miss the days when viewers had the power to vote.
“Much preferred the viewer votes for their favourite celebrity and charity. This new format is too much like Survivor,” one person wrote.
“Shocking way to get eliminated! So disappointing! I feel like the surface was barely scratched with Rachel, and she would have so much more to offer, and now she’s gone. She was one of the few legit world-known celebs in there,” a second wrote.
“This way of eliminating celebs is actually terrible. Means the person and charity that people wanted to win won’t win,” a third chimed in.
Others vented their frustration over seeing fan favourite Rachel eliminated so early in the competition.
“Such a big mistake, I’m done. I didn’t know Rachel meant so much to me in the jungle until you got rid of her. Good luck with the rest of the season,” a fan commented. Another wrote “Noooo I didn’t want Rachel to go, whatever happened to the public voting?”
Stream I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here Australia 2026 on 10Play.
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