Reason I'm A Celeb stars no longer have phone numbers on the back of their uniform

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is back with its usual camp, usual challenges, and usual uniforms.

But while the likes of Coleen Rooney, Tulisa, and Danny Jones might be donning the classic red socks, there has been a slight tweak to what the celebrities are wearing.

And to be honest, after years of being so used to it, it seems a little odd to look at the back of their shirts now.

Yep, while the stars still have their names plastered on the back of the blue T-shirts and beige shirts, there is no longer a phone number.

Don’t panic, you’ll still get to vote for I’m A Celeb this year but, well, times have changed, it seems.

Full name, no number. (ITV)

Instead of listening to Ant and Dec reel off all the celebrities' names and the phone number to ring to vote for them to do a trial, they’ll just be telling us to head to an app.

No more shouting to remind us to ring the ‘short number’ on our mobile if we don’t want Rooney to be sent home.

I can’t lie, it always felt nostalgic to hear that. But I guess we’re all old now, and technology has taken the lead.

One user wrote on X: “All of the t-shirts having full government names on the back rather than their first names and a phone number is sending me.”

Another pointed out: “Feels weird that no one has a phone number on their back this year.”

“No phone lines to vote this year then, I'm gonna miss hearing ‘The short number’ being said,” others echoed.

The end of an era. (ITV)

Many are a bit gutted by that, writing: “So 2024 is the year they’ve finally got rid of phone voting… who’s gonna shout call the SHORT NUMBER now.”

Another disappointed fan said: “WHERE are the phone numbers on the back of their shirts? I know the app exists, but you never mess with a 22-year tradition!”

Well, say goodbye to tradition lads, phone voting is gone.

A show source told LADbible: "Over the years, the number of people voting by phone has declined, and it's become a very small proportion of votes cast. To simplify the message to our viewers, we have chosen to only have free online (via the app) voting this year."

This year, viewers will get five free votes on the app, and while it’s been app-only for the Trial vote for years, 2024 is also app-only for the ‘vote for your favourite’ when we get down to the nitty gritty of saving them.

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