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Decision to cast six contestants over 50 in latest series of the ITV programme hailed as an 'incredible breakthrough' For a medium that prizes youth above all else, it is a most unlikely trend. But reality television is suddenly smitten with the over-60s. With a lineup that includes three competitors pushing 70, ITV's new series of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here is following the lead of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1, which has this year seen ratings rise in line with its contestants' ages. The X Factor's young and over-styled finalists have found themselves under pressure from Strictly's collection of (mostly) light-footed actors, presenters, musicians and sportsmen – despite more than half of Strictly's original lineup being over 40. I'm a Celebrity's producers will be hoping for similar success as they serve up this year's gruesome bush tucker to a cast including 60-year-old Lorraine Chase plus Willie Carson and Freddie Starr – both 68. Starr on Friday afternoon was reportedly awol in the jungle ahead of Sunday's launch show. Audiences have been charmed by Strictly celebrities such as actor Anita Dobson, 62, and astrologer Russell Grant, 60. Their appearances follow on from the success of Pamela Stephenson Connolly, who last year was the first sexagenarian to reach the Strictly final. Emma Soames, editor-at-large of Saga Magazine, said the dance show's 2011 lineup was a positive move for TV. "It's an incredible breakthrough actually that the BBC have got over themselves and are beginning to be more open-minded," she said. "But the people themselves are also such fabulous characters. They're well-rounded and unbelievably up for it – and in a way I think older people relish and appreciate a challenge more than younger people because it isn't necessarily a given." Some of Strictly's more mature contenders have already danced their last tango, with Lulu, 63, Edwina Currie, 64, and Nancy Dell'Olio, 50, voted out. But they undoubtedly merited their dismissals, not least in the case of Dell'Olio, who managed to trip over her own feather boa. "When I came to Strictly last year I thought it's a family show, you sit with your nan and the kids watching it together," said the show's executive producer, Moira Ross. "Keeping that in mind, it's putting together a cast that everybody on that sofa can relate to and get behind." Allowing viewers to relate to performers on TV is important, said Soames. "Some of the audience will be that age, so it's a very basic thing of engaging with and reflecting the audience." She added: "It's difficult to analyse what has given Strictly a vibrancy that is very much lacking from X Factor, but one of the differences is the age of the contestants." Strictly Come Dancing and the X Factor are locked in a battle for Saturday night ratings, with the Simon Cowell talent show – previously an unstoppable juggernaut – shedding viewers year-on-year. ITV will be hoping for better from its reality show based in the Australian bush. I'm a Celebrity has often included older contestants – last year's lineup included Britt Ekland, Jenny Eclair and, memorably, Gillian McKeith – but the new series includes six contestants aged 50 or over, including former athlete Fatima Whitbread, and actors Stefanie Powers and Crissy Rock. A spokesman for the show said: "We don't cast specifically on age, we choose people based on character and personality – their charisma, humour and life experience are all very important considerations." Vicky Frost
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