I'm A Celebrity contestants facing 'toughest series ever' following early departures and blazing temperatures

The run of bad luck is reportedly a 'nightmare' for ITV

Contestants around the campfire (Rex)

The Australian jungle has lost two contestants in two days – and now reports suggest that the latest series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is in crisis.

Gemma Collins left the show after just three days because she struggled to cope with life in the camp.

The Only Way Is Essex star broke down in tears on Sunday and Monday night, saying at one point: “People who murder get treated better than this. That’s the truth. Even a murderer gets fed three times a day.”

And yesterday Craig Charles quit after the tragic sudden death of his older brother.

The Coronation Street star decided to leave after he was told about the death of Dean, who reportedly died after having a heart attack at his home in Spain.

Ahead of confirmation of Charles’s departure, a source reportedly told the Mirror: “Losing Craig and Gemma in the space of 48 hours would be a nightmare for ITV.”

Replacements have been found in the form of former Conservative politician Edwina Currie and X Factor contestant Jake Quickenden - but given Collins’ popularity on social media, the pair will need to make an impact.

And the other celebrities may have to leave the jungle early as well, as producers fear “freak high temperatures” could leave the contestants too ill to participate.

The source said: “The celebrities are already in meltdown and we’ve barely started. This will be the toughest series ever to survive, we are on red alert to make sure no one becomes seriously ill in there.

There was no response when The Independent contacted ITV today.