I'm A Celeb star says he didn't recognise half the campmates

He says the drama is faked now as celebs know how the game works and how to manipulate producers

Former I'm A Celebrity star Paul Burrell has called on the show's producers to 'refresh' the once much-loved series, following reports this year's show is battling with declining ratings. Burrell - who appeared on I'm A Celeb's All Star series earlier this year - hits out at this year's current stars, insisting he 'doesn't recognise half of the people' in camp as he questions their celebrity status and whether viewers are growing 'tired' of the show's repetitive format.

In an interview with Spin Genie, Burrell also has his say on claims politicians shouldn't appear in the jungle as he shares his thoughts on Nigel Farage's stint in camp. He claims the reason why the show 'isn't working anymore' is due to contestants being too clued up on playing the game and how to secure airtime.

Paul said: "‘I don’t recognise half the people this year… the public are tired of it’ It's been a juggernaut of a show for so long we are so used to it but I wonder if we have seen it all before.

"I've done it and it was an incredible experience but I don’t recognise half of the people this year. I’m not sure influencers or podcasters are celebrities, there was a time we would recognise everyone. I think the public want to see celebrities so I’m wondering about the fact that it lost so many viewers.

"Are we tired of it? There are only so many times you can throw a bucket of maggots over someone or put them into a box with snakes, you can’t continue, it has to be refreshed somehow.

Addressing politicians in camp he said: "They are public figures but if they are sitting in the House of Commons then no, they are being paid to look after their constituents and getting a very good wage and lifestyle. If they take three weeks off whilst parliament is sitting then what happens to their constituency.

"They shouldn’t take part in that case but if they are no longer an MP then I think that's fine. But they should beware, Matt Hancock didn’t do himself any favours by doing it last year, it just exposed him. I think the exposure Nigel Farage is getting isn’t all good."

And he said the way contestants act now is very deliberate, adding: “I do think contestants know how to manage air time because the show has been going for so long, they know how to create a thread which will carry them through the show. If you sit there on a log and say nothing you won’t be there for very long so the contestants know how to create controversy to give them air time.

"These people are not stupid they know how to play the programme and maybe that's part of why it doesn’t work anymore. But Ant and Dec are brilliant, it's worth watching just for them, their humour and presentation of the show is hilarious.”