I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is kicking off early this year and it will be an even earlier start for this year's celebrities, who face a week-long isolation stint before entering the jungle.
The series will return to ITV on the slightly earlier date of November 6.
While the 2022 line-up has yet to be officially confirmed, the first celebs arrive in Australia on Tuesday (October 25).
READ MORE:I'm A Celeb evacuation fears as camp hit with a month's worth of rain in extreme storm
Their early arrival comes as this year's celebrity campmates have all been instructed to travel to Australia at least a week before the show starts and stay locked in isolation.
ITV bosses are reported to have taken the precautionary measure in a bid to avoid any of the celebs being removed from the show if they test positive for coronavirus before entering the jungle.
It's believed that if any of this year's stars – with Mike Tindall, Boy George and Chris Moyles all rumoured to be joining the line-up – were to contract Covid on their flight, they could be regularly tested and still make the start date or enter the jungle as a late arrival.
A show source said: "The celebs normally arrive over a four or five day period and some come in just a day or two before filming and are still a bit jet lagged in camp.
"But there is none of that happening this year, everyone will be here a week before they get into camp and some are coming out 10 days before.
"They will be staying in nice places so it won't be like a prison cell but they won't want them mixing with people.
"Once they are out of the airport the idea is to keep them alone as much as possible to minimise any risk of them having to quit the show.
"ITV don't want to jeopardise the show because of Covid as it has caused them so many problems in the last two years and stopped the show being in Australia for so long."
The precautionary measure follows Strictly's AJ Pritchard testing positive for Covid days before the 2020 series and being allowed to enter after posting negative tests.
Asked about the celebrities landing at Brisbane airport early, an ITV source said: "The celebrities are arriving earlier than previous years to isolate and test for Covid before entering camp."
I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is expected to last three weeks and is kicking off a week earlier than normal to accommodate FIFA World Cup coverage from November 20.
ITV is hoping a small overlap between the events will bring in bumper audiences for the broadcaster.
i'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! will return to ITV on November 6.
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