I’m a Celeb medic explains why contestants wear red socks

It's that time of year again - I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! returns to our screens in the UK tonight, with a bunch of famous faces entering the Australian jungle.

With the reality TV show returning to Australia for the first time since 2019, we thought we'd revisit one of the most common questions from viewers - why do all the campmates wear red socks?

With all the bug eating, dingo dollar challenges and bushtucker trials, you wouldn't think the colour of the celeb's socks would be a talking point.

The reason as to why the campmates wear the strange looking socks is actually quite gross.

According to a show insider, the red socks are not for uniform purposes, but actually due to all the critters in the Australian jungle.

Speaking to Woman's Own a few years ago, former camp medic Bob McCarron – who was on the show for many years –revealed the socks were actually used to cover up blood splatters to the cameras from the varied blood sucking critics living in the jungle.

Essentially, producers don't want celebs to look battered and bruised while in the jungle, so the red socks make sense.

One person who will be donning the famous red socks this year will be politician Matt Hancock.

The former health secretary is set to enter camp in the coming days as the 12th celebrity.

Allstar Picture Library Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

The MP for West Suffolk has been largely criticised for his involvement with this year's I'm a Celeb, with one Tory MP describing him as an 'absolute prat'

Hancock has been warned by last year's 'King of the Castle' Emmerdale star Danny Miller that he will be used like a 'toy' in the jungle.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Miller said: "I think he (Hancock) needs to just accept the fact that he is going to be everyone's toy".

Hancock will be a latecomer into came, with ten celebs set to enter the Australian jungle tonight.

Former rugby union player and royal Mike Tindall, England Lioness Jill Scott, radio DJ Chris Moyles and Boy George will all be donning the red socks tonight.

ITV

Also announced is TV presenter Charlene White, Corrie's Sue Cleaver, Hollyoaks star Owen Warner, Celebrity Gogglebox's Babatunde Aléshé, Love Island's Olivia Attwood, and A Place in the Sun's Scarlette Douglas.

I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! returns on ITV tonight at 9:00pm but try not to think too much about what is under the red socks.