The RTL jungle camp has a new king. In the first season from South Africa, a candidate wins who had to fight hard for his place – and now he doesn’t even fear monkeys anymore.
Cologne – When it was certain, he shouted “Thank you!” in the South African sky: The reality TV candidate Filip Pavlovic won the RTL jungle camp 2022.
The 27-year-old, known for example from the dating format “The Bachelorette”, received the most viewer votes in the finale of the show “I’m a star – get me out of here!” early on Sunday morning. Pavlovic could hardly believe his luck and ran through the jungle camp one last time, where he spent around two weeks and – from an awkward flirt to plenty of lively wildlife to gagging attacks – had experienced all kinds of things.
“Oh my God! Thanks guys, thanks!” Pavlovic yelled into the jungle. “Where are the monkeys? Now you can shit on me!”
Pavlovic had to work out space
He was by no means the biggest celebrity in the candidate field. That could be seen from the fact that he wasn’t invited to the show – but had earned his place. In 2021, Pavlovic won the RTL “jungle show” in Hürth – a replacement format for the jungle camp, which was unusual at the time. Even then, his latently flippant manner (“Digga?!”) was quite well received.
Despite the relevant previous experience, he underestimated the jungle camp, Filip explained after his coronation as jungle king with a colorful flower hood. It’s not about the sometimes questionable food and the exams – but about the competitors. “You’re with eleven crazy people. Everyone has a bigger crack than the other,” he reported. He thanked the viewers for the vote: “I kiss your eyes!”
Not necessarily the big names win
The new jungle monarch fits in with the lineage of previous majesties. It’s often not the biggest names that win, but the funny, inflexible, modest ones who don’t constantly throw themselves into arguments around the campfire. His direct predecessor in office, former “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” winner Prince Damien, was also one of those characters.
Fashion designer Harald Glööckler, for example, was – treated as a favorite – failed in the semi-finals this year. The designer had fired off one or the other point from his bunk and refused an examination, citing his vegetarianism – which he doesn’t count fish among.
Filip, meanwhile, made friends with celebrity bodyguard and talker Peter Althof, bravely struggled through exams despite choking attacks and made no secret of the fact that he had a few gaps in his education. For example, the names of the musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis meant nothing to him. “Aramis sounds like anus,” he mused. He later explained to viewers, “I’m not the brightest candle on the cake. But you seem okay with it.”
In the final, Pavlovic also shook off “Good Times, Bad Times” actor Eric Stehfest (32), who finished second. It didn’t help that in his final exam he unflinchingly buffed the eyes, larvae and brain of a kudu – served in a kudu head. “I feel like I’m 16 again, because we just did shit like that for fun,” he explained. Which was a bit of an irritating statement given what was being eaten. Third place went to reality candidate Manuel Flickinger (33, “Prince Charming”).
Three men in the final
For the first time three men were in the final. Gradually, the women had all failed in the votes. Model and reality actress Janina Youssefian also had to leave the show after a racist statement.
The Austrian Tara Tabitha, between whom and Pavlovic seemed to be developing a romance, also dropped out early – by viewer vote – even if Tabitha’s feelings were obviously a little stronger than the other way around. That didn’t exactly make it easy for Pavlovic to moderate the matter.
It was the 15th season of the reality show. Because of the corona pandemic, “I’m a star – get me out of here!” was created this time in South Africa instead of Australia as usual. Whether that will happen again is an open question. He was “the first king of South Africa,” said Filip at the end. Maybe the last one too. “One does not know.” dpa
