The jungle’s getting a proper shake-up this year. I’m A Celebrity South Africa is back for series two, and the format change they’ve thrown in could flip the whole thing on its head. Instead of crowning a winner straight after filming wraps, ITV’s holding a live final from the UK on April 24, putting the decision squarely in viewers’ hands.

That’s a different game entirely.

Camp performance still matters, but popularity becomes the deciding factor when you’re asking the British public to pick a winner three months after filming.

Bullard Takes Early Lead

The theoretical betting markets have Jimmy Bullard out front, and it’s not hard to see why. The former Premier League midfielder knows how to work a room, he’s got that natural camp dynamic sorted, and viewers already know what they’re getting. In a format now built around public voting, that familiarity counts for plenty.

Jake Ashton, an entertainment betting expert at OLBG.com, reckons Bullard’s got a real edge over the field based on these early projections. Worth knowing: these aren’t live betting markets, just industry probability assessments, but they give a decent read on where the smart money would land if books were taking action.

Strong Competition From Proven Performers

Bullard might be favourite, but this isn’t a one-horse race. Ashley Roberts sits at 6/4, bringing serious star power and the experience of finishing runner-up in her original series. She knows what it takes to go deep in this competition.

Then there’s Scarlett Moffatt at 2/1, a former winner who’s stayed firmly in the public eye since her jungle triumph. Sharing that price is Seann Walsh, who the experts reckon could be a big player if he handles the challenges well.

Harry Redknapp’s at 4/1, another past winner with that loveable factor that served him brilliantly first time around. The market’s suggesting viewers have a soft spot for proven champions, which could work in favour of both Redknapp and Moffatt.

The Wild Card Factor

Here’s the thing about a live public vote three months after filming: nobody really knows how viewers will react once the show hits screens. The theoretical markets reflect what we can measure now, popularity and past performance. But camp dynamics can surprise everyone.

Someone could absolutely emerge as a dark horse once the episodes air and social media gets involved. That delayed final gives plenty of time for momentum to build or reputations to shift.

The all-star lineup guarantees strong personalities and proven entertainment value across the board. Filming wrapped back in September, so the content’s already in the can. What happens next depends entirely on how it plays when viewers finally see it. Whether early favourites like Bullard can maintain that edge all the way to April? We’ll see.