I’m A Celeb hosts Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris open up about Chris’ final season

In a candid interview, I’m A Celeb hosts Chris Brown and Julia Morris open up about their time as a TV double-act coming to an end.

This season of I’m A Celeb has served as an extended farewell for co-host Dr Chris Brown, after it was revealed back in February he’d be switching networks from Ten to Seven once the season airs.

I spoke to Brown and Julia Morris down the line from South Africa days ahead of Sunday’s finale, and found his longtime co-host still struggling to get her head around the fact she’ll soon be without her beloved doctor.

“I’m just sad in my heart,” she confessed.

“I think I’m still in shock, and in a very healthy way, I’ve decided to completely ignore it in my brain. This series has felt even more fun than usual, so I’m just not allowing my brain to click over to the fact it won’t be in this incarnation anymore.”

Chris Brown and Julia Morris will have their final show together on Sunday.

Brown’s move between networks has been unusually protracted by TV standards, and he said it had been bittersweet having one last rumble in the jungle before he said goodbye to I’m A Celeb.

“It’s definitely been [difficult], and that’s been because I love the show so much. It’s been hard to count down how many shows you have left, and realise it’s the last time you do this or that,” he said.

“But it’s allowed me to treasure every single day I’ve had over here. It’s also given the entire crew the chance to crack jokes about it.”

“If it’s laughing or crying, which one do you want to do?” Morris pointed out.

It has been a stellar season of I’m A Celeb, with a largely harmonious camp thanks to calming presences like Deb Lawrance, Adam Cooney and Liz Ellis.

Brown named former netball champ Ellis as this season’s natural leader, explaining that the other contestants “go to a trial and their motivation is they don’t want to let down Liz … it’s quite funny.”

Liz Ellis has been a natural leader at camp.

Below Deck reality star Aesha Scott – hardly a household name in Australia before the season started – has been one of this season’s biggest surprise packages.

“She’s been a revelation. Her energy, her humour, her determination to keep everyone entertained at every possible opportunity, and her open-mouthed silent laughing, would’ve been a big surprise for many people,” said Brown.

The season’s biggest scandal came in week one, when TV legend Kerri-Anne Kennerley dramatically quit the show just three days in, after a fierce confrontation from Married At First Sight star Domenica Calarco.

As Dom unleashed, MAFS-style, the cameras cut to the hosts looking utterly mortified – particularly Brown, whose expression suggested this is a man who doesn’t cope well with confrontation.

A front-row seat to a reality TV fight for the ages.

“In fact, it was the face of someone who realised they’ve got the front row seat to a true reality TV moment … and they’re dressed in comical tennis gear,” he explained.

Viewers saw one small portion of the confrontation before the show later cut to KAK tearfully telling her campmates she’d quit. But what happened in the middle – did anyone try to convince her to stay?

Brown said that in fact there was “silence” among the crew as everyone tried to process what had just happened.

And besides, “Kerri-Anne was pretty clear – well, abundantly clear – about how she felt. We’re not about trying to change people’s minds. We had to mediate to a certain extent, and make sure everyone felt OK.”

KAK quits. Picture: Channel 10

Brown and Morris certainly have a more nurturing attitude towards their contestants than hosts on many other shows. Morris explained that it was an important aspect of hosting a rare reality show that thrives on cohesion rather than conflict.

“The contestants are in the jungle for a long time, so to much making fun of them doesn’t go well. They become less seen to do trials and less keen to even see us in camp, which is not a nice feeling,” she said.

That mix – absurd humour mixed with a caring attitude – has been a winning combination for the duo since they were first paired together back in I’m A Celeb’s debut season in 2015.

Morris said it was hard to think about they might replace her right-hand man.

“Chris and I, people think they know what this combination is and why it [works], but not even we’re really sure why that frisson is so great. How am I going to find a person who fills all that criteria?” Morris asked.

Better start the audition process now, then. Julia Morris, who would you like as your co-host for I’m A Celeb 2024?
“I really have someone special in mind, and I don’t want to blow it,” she revealed. “I’m hoping I can coax Dr Chris Brown over from Channel 7.”

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! season finale airs 7.30pm Sunday

Originally published as I’m A Celeb hosts Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris open up about Chris’ final season