Winners Of Im A Celeb

Alright, grab a cuppa and settle in. We need to have a chat about the absolute winners of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! You know, the show where famous people eat kangaroo testicles and have emotional breakdowns over a campfire. It’s the only reality show where the prize is a crown of thorns and a year’s supply of insect repellent.

Let’s be real: these winners didn’t just beat spiders and bad weather. They conquered the real jungle—the jungle of public opinion. They walked in with empty bellies and came out with a shiny jungle crown, which honestly looks like it was made by a drunk art teacher. But hey, it’s the thought that counts.

The Early Days: When Grubs Were Just Grubs

Back in the noughties, Kerry Katona stumbled in with a suitcase full of drama. She won the first series in 2002, shocking everyone who thought she’d just cry for a week. Spoiler alert: she cried, but she also ate a witchetty grub like it was a fancy appetizer. It set the tone: to win, you must be willing to look ridiculous.

Other early champs like Phil Tufnell seemed totally bewildered to be there. He was a cricketer who looked more confused than a squirrel in a nightclub. Yet he won because he was so adorably useless that the nation had to root for him. It’s the “aww, bless” factor, and it’s powerful.

When the Jungle Got Serious (and Soapy)

Then came the soap stars. Jacqueline Jossa from EastEnders had a legendary meltdown about a bog roll. She cried so hard that I think the spiders learned her name. And she won. It was a masterclass in being a relatable mess. We all love seeing a celebrity who doesn’t have their life together.

Don’t forget Joe Swash, who won back in 2008. He was a loudmouth from EastEnders who turned into the camp’s unofficial cheerleader. He loved the trials so much he looked disappointed when he wasn’t covered in cockroaches. His win proved that sheer, unhinged enthusiasm beats everything.

The Celebrity Cycle: From D-List to A-List (Temporarily)

Here’s a juicy fact: a lot of winners weren’t even famous for proper stuff. Take Sam Thompson from Made in Chelsea. He won in 2023, and his main talent was being perennially over-caffeinated. He bounced around the jungle like a Tigger that drank Red Bull. The British public loved him for it, because who doesn’t want to watch a human golden retriever conquer the jungle?

Then you have Giovanna Fletcher, a writer and podcaster. She won in 2020, which was the year the show had to be filmed in a bloody castle in Wales because of the pandemic. She won by being kind and baking cakes on a campfire. Baking. In a jungle. That’s honestly more impressive than eating a spider.

And let’s not overlook Scarlett Moffatt, who was a Gogglebox star. She won by being the most relatable human alive. She sat around in her pajamas, drank tea, and made funny faces. She basically did what we all do at home, but she won £100,000 for charity for it. Living the dream, honestly.

Oddities and Surprises

You might think the toughest people win. But nope. The 2018 winner was Harry Redknapp, a 71-year-old football manager. He spent his time talking about his dog and fixing the camp kettle. He didn’t do a single terrifying trial. He just wandered around being charming. The nation sighed and handed him the crown. We love a granddad.

Another shocker: the winners are often the ones who don’t do the most dangerous trials. It’s actually about personality. A study found that the contestants who wallow in self-pity get voted out fast. The ones who laugh at their own misery? They’re off to pick up their golden jungle hat.

The Real Prize: A Second Chance at Fame

For most winners, the prize isn’t just the crown. It’s a career reboot. Georgia Toffolo (Toff) from Made in Chelsea won in 2017. She went from being a posh reality star to a national treasure. She now gets paid to appear on Loose Women and talk about how nice everyone was. It’s the ultimate glow-up.

But some just vanish. Remember Carl Fogarty? The biker won in 2014. He’s now back to racing, probably. Or Christopher Biggins? He won in 2007, and now we only see him on charity pub quizzes. Fame is a fickle friend, my friends.

So, What’s the Winning Formula?

If you want to win, you must be one of three things: a) a national treasure who does nothing except tell funny stories, b) a complete disaster who cries into a bucket, or c) a joyful nutcase who treats every trial like a birthday party. Do not be boring. Do not be too competent. And definitely do not complain about the food.

So next time you watch a celebrity choke down a bull’s penis, remember: you are witnessing a future winner. Or at the very least, someone getting a free holiday and a great story for their memoir. Cheers to the winners—the brave, the weird, and the wonderfully average.