The RTL jungle camp was launched for the first time in 2004. For the 20th anniversary, 20 exciting facts about the reality TV veteran.
The RTL jungle camp opens its doors again. This Friday, January 19th (also on RTL+) starts the 17th season of the reality TV show, which can already look back on a 20-year history. For the 20th anniversary, here are 20 facts about “I’m a star – get me out of here!”.
1. The first king
In 2004, German celebrities went to the RTL jungle camp for the first time, which was based on the British format “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!” based. At the end of January, singer Costa Cordalis (1944-2019) was crowned the first jungle king. He prevailed against Lisa Fitz (72) and Daniel Küblböck (1985-2018). But in 2004 there wasn’t just one winner: the second season took place in autumn and Désirée Nick (67) won.
2. The first farewell
With the sentence “I’m a star – get me out of here!” Jungle campers can voluntarily end their adventure early. Dustin Semmelrogge (43) made use of this opportunity for the first time. He left camp after just three days in season one.
3. Abort, abort
The campers can also use this sentence to maneuver their way out of an exam early. According to RTL, ten tests were canceled in 16 seasons and a total of 277 tests. The dropouts include, for example, Jimmy Hartwig (69) in season two or jungle queen Djamila Rowe (56) in season 16. In the tenth season, Helena Fürst (49) even decided to cancel exams twice and completely refused to take another one.
4. The exam star
TV emigrant Danni Büchner (45) had to go through the jungle test twelve times in Australia in 2020. This means she holds the record for the most exams. Model and actress Larissa Marolt (31) has had to complete the second most challenges so far. In 2014 she took part in ten tasks.
5. Let me back in!
In order to avoid boredom in the jungle universe, the makers have also produced spin-offs. In 2015, former candidates fought in “I am a star – let me back in!” to return to the camp. Brigitte Nielsen (60), jungle queen in 2012, won and took part again in 2016, this time coming in sixth place.
6. The Golden Ticket
In 2021, the makers also had to get creative: Due to the corona pandemic, the regular season was canceled. That’s why there was the German-produced program “I’m a Star – The Big Jungle Show”. Filip Pavlovic (29) was able to secure the golden ticket for the coming season and was even elected jungle king in 2022.
7. The move
However, the coronation did not take place in Australia, but in South Africa. The 15th season was not filmed Down Under in early 2022 due to the pandemic, but near the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest game reserve in Mpumalanga. The return to Australia followed in 2023.
8. The advertising slap
In 2014, the reality show went overboard with product placement, according to a court ruling. Because a bar from a biscuit manufacturer was shown in a sequence for too long and was highlighted too much, a court in Hanover ruled in 2016 that it was surreptitious advertising.
9. The transfer
Sonja Zietlow (55) has been loyal to the format as a presenter since season one. In addition to her, various presenters from the jungle reported: Dirk Bach (1961-2012) presented the show with her until season six. After his death, Daniel Hartwich (45) became the new jungle presenter in season seven in 2013. In last season 16, Jan Köppen (40) took over his position after Hartwich announced his departure from the show for family reasons.
10. Left empty-handed
In 2011 the show was nominated for the German Television Prize and in 2013 it was nominated for the Grimme Prize in the entertainment category. But it didn’t come with an award. In 2013, Zietlow and Hartwich were to be honored for the best moderation in comedy at the German Comedy Prize. The moderators did not take part in the awards ceremony after Dirk Bach’s death. In 2023, the show won the “Best Entertainment Reality” category at the German Television Awards.
11. The age record
In 2024, at the age of 72, Heinz Hoenig will move to the camp in Australia. However, he is not the oldest candidate in the history of the successful RTL show. Ingrid van Bergen is the oldest candidate to date to venture into the jungle adventure in Australia. The now 92-year-old was an impressive 78 years old when she took part in 2009 and was even able to win.
12. The constant
Robert “Dr. Bob” McCarron (73) has been part of “I’m a Star – Get Me Out of Here!” since the first season. The special effects artist and makeup artist for the jungle camp was discovered while working on “The Matrix.” In 2002, he appeared as “Medical Bob” in the British original “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!” at. In 2004 he made his first appearance as “Dr. Bob” for the RTL jungle camp. Since then, the jungle doctor has been the celebrities’ confidant and, for example, informs them about possible risks and dangers before every jungle test.
13. The dalliances
One or two stars got closer to each other in the camp. Jay Khan (41) and Indira Weis (44) created the ultimate romance in season five. After spending some time together after the jungle, they separated again. To this day, the two deny a PR number and a fake relationship. Just a year later, Rocco Stark (37) and Kim Gloss (31) became the jungle dream couple in 2012 and even became parents to the first “jungle baby” after the show. However, they are now separated.
14. The ex-couple
According to RTL, Marc Terenzi (45) and Gina-Lisa Lohfink (37) were the first ex-couple to move into the camp in 2017. Things ended up going very differently for the musician and the reality star, who were dating in 2009. Lohfink came eighth in the format, Terenzi took the win.
15. The expulsion
DJ Tomekk (48) was kicked out of the third season of the RTL show in 2008 after eleven days – on the instructions of the broadcaster. Those responsible took him off the show without explanation. A private video had previously emerged in which he could be seen giving the Hitler salute. His subsequent apology and his explanation that he had “no right-wing ideas whatsoever” did not bring him back to the camp.
16. The break
The fact that the jungle camp is celebrating its 20th anniversary and there have only been 16 seasons so far is due to a break. Due to high production costs and complex production, the show was not continued after the second season in 2004 and only returned in 2008.
17. Two camps
The reality show has stayed pretty true to the concept over the years. However, there was a change in 2016 and 2017: two camps were initially opened. In the first three days, the candidates from Base Camp had to compete against Camp Snake Rock in the exams and for their team.
18. No entry
In 2023, Martin Semmelrogge (68), an announced jungle camper, was missing from Australia. He was the only one of the twelve participants who was not granted an entry permit. He was stuck in Doha until the end and finally had to return to Germany. There have also been cases of non-entry before: Nastassja Kinski (62) is said to have thrown in the towel of her own free will in 2017 before leaving for the Australian bush. Lucas Cordalis (56) had to miss 2022 due to a positive corona test, but was able to take part in 2023.
19. The voting glitch
Not everything can always go smoothly: There was a mishap in the reality show in season 13. For the first time, no candidate had to leave the camp because there was a technical glitch in the evaluation of the voting results. The candidate with the fewest votes was only named the next day and had to leave the show with two other participants (Chris Töpperwien, Bastian Yotta and Sandra Kiriasis).
20. The victory bonus
Since 2019, the incentive for celebrities to win the show has been even greater. Since the 13th season, the stars don’t “just” get their previously negotiated salary. Prize money of 100,000 euros awaits the jungle king or queen. Jungle queen Evelyn Burdecki (35) enjoyed it for the first time.