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Dicko reveals I’m A Celeb’s secret shower system

The latest I’m A Celeb evictee has given new insight into the most delicate aspect of life at camp: 13 contestants sharing one open-air shower.

Ian 'Dicko' Dickson reveals Guy Sebastian's first Australian Idol pay cheque

Departing I’m A Celeb contestant Ian “Dicko” Dickson has given new insight into one of the most delicate aspects of life on the show: That one, cold, open-air shower shared by all of the celebs.

Earlier this season, contestant Aesha Scott confessed she’d managed to last her first few days at camp without having a shower, instead making do with swims at the nearby waterfall.

Some tastefully framed scenes then showed Scott taking the plunge, stripping naked alongside MAFS star Domenica Calarco to have her first cold jungle shower.

Dicko explained that, with the shower positioned in a thoroughfare near the gym and washing-up sink outside the main camp, contestants devised a simple system to try and claw back some privacy.

Contestants’ ever-present mic packs and akubra hats were used to signal that the shower was out-of-bounds.

I'm A Celeb contestants take a shower – right next to the washing up basin and jungle gym.
I'm A Celeb contestants take a shower – right next to the washing up basin and jungle gym.

“If you leave your akubra upturned with your microphone in it, at the point where you turn down to go towards the showers, it means that person’s in the shower and you’re not to go in there. That was the code,” he told news.com.au today.

At least, that was the plan. Pretty soon, “most people didn’t give a monkey’s. Aesha and Dom showered nude all the time and didn’t care who saw them. Which is not an invitation to look, because none of us did.”

Harry Garside showers as his campmates wash up.
Harry Garside showers as his campmates wash up.

Dicko himself made an initial attempt at modesty during his 20 days on the show, showering in his underpants for the first few days.

“Then I thought: This is pointless. I ended up taking them off and showering nude. I was certain no-one wants to look at my 60-year-old reptilian body anyway.”

Dicko showered in his undies for the first few days – then gave up.
Dicko showered in his undies for the first few days – then gave up.

Despite annual confusion from contestants about whether or not their shower-time will be televised, there is in fact a camera on the shower – albeit one that’s positioned quite far away and discreetly hidden.

Reality star Keira Maguire revealed after her 2017 season of I’m A Celeb that she had a bold game plan for how to handle the showers, stripping off completely in the hope the footage would be unusable.

“The reason I showered nude is because I did see them [before her season] showing other women showering with their undies on. I’m like, ‘Nup, not having it’,” she said in an interview with Kyle and Jackie O after she’d left the jungle.

2017 contestant Keira Maguire showered naked in the hope the footage wouldn’t be used. Picture: Nigel Wright/Ten.
2017 contestant Keira Maguire showered naked in the hope the footage wouldn’t be used. Picture: Nigel Wright/Ten.

“It’s a ploy! If you shower naked, you KNOW you’re not going to get on [TV], but if you’re in your undies, you actually might show it,” said Jackie O.

While Aussie I’m A Celeb fans might see a glimpse of faraway, PG-rated from the celebs at camp, overseas viewers cop much more of an eyeful.

The German version of I’m A Celeb, called Ich Bin Ein Star – Holt Mich Hier Raus!, is a damn sight racier than the Aussie version, with lingering camera shots of all the celebs in varying states of undress.

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! continues 7.30pm Thursday on Ten.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/im-a-celebrity/dicko-reveals-im-a-celebs-secret-shower-system/news-story/df51a124f608feb2680172185847b364