List Of I'm A Celeb Winners

Let’s be real: I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is the only reality show that actually makes us feel good about our own lives. You’re sitting there in your comfy joggers, eating a bag of crisps, while a former pop star is eating a kangaroo testicle on live TV. Suddenly, your messy kitchen doesn’t seem so bad, right? The show is a glorious dumpster fire of jungle trials, and the winner is the one who somehow keeps a smile while being covered in slime. It’s basically a national treasure.

The list of winners reads like a who’s who of people you’d actually want to have a pint with. They’re not always the loudest or the most famous. No, the winner is usually the one who quietly reassures the others that the spider is probably not poisonous. That’s a skillset you can’t learn in a boardroom.

The Early Days: When a Toff Won and We All Cried

The very first winner back in 2002 was Tony Blackburn, a radio DJ who could talk his way out of a crocodile pit. It set the tone: you don’t have to be tough; you just have to be chatty. Then came Phil Tufnell, a cricketer who looked permanently lost, like a dad at a supermarket. He won because he seemed so genuinely confused by the whole thing—a feeling we all recognise on a Monday morning.

And let’s not forget Kerry Katona in 2004. She was a whirlwind of chaos, crying one minute and laughing the next. Watching her was like watching your best mate after three glasses of wine: unpredictable, loud, and oddly heartwarming. She won because she was real, flaws and all.

The Golden Era: When Jungle Life Got Properly Gross

By the time Joe McElderry won in 2010, we’d realised the secret: the winner is often the one who doesn’t complain about the food. Joe, a tiny lad with a big voice, sailed through by being unfailingly polite. It was like watching a golden retriever navigate a mudslide—you just couldn’t help but root for him. Compare that to Dougie Poynter, the bassist from McFly, who won in 2011. He spent half his time trying to smuggle snacks into camp. He was basically a teenager on a school trip, and we loved him for it.

Then came Kian Egan in 2013. He was one of those Westlife lads you forgot about until he turned into a jungle survival beast. He built fires, caught fish, and looked like a Viking who’d accidentally wandered into a reality show. It was genuinely shocking, like discovering your dad can actually fix the boiler.

The “Nice Person” Strategy (It Works Every Time)

Look at the winners from the mid-2010s: Fleur East (2018) had a smile so bright it could power the camp’s solar lights. Jacqueline Jossa (2019) was a total mess—crying, worrying, and having emotional breakdowns—but she was our mess. She won because she was the human version of a wet blanket who still offers you the last biscuit.

And then there’s Giovanni Fletcher (2020). She was a nurse who did all the gross trials without flinching. She was so calm and competent that you’d trust her to perform surgery on a kangaroo. It was like watching your mum clear out the garage—quietly impressive, and slightly intimidating.

The Absolute Legends You Can’t Forget

Some winners are just meme-worthy. Take Harry Redknapp in 2018. A 70-year-old football manager who spent his time feeding kangaroos and saying “lovely jubbly.” He won because he was basically everyone’s granddad—confused by the young people, but charmingly so. When he left, he probably asked for directions back to the hotel.

And Jill Scott in 2022. She was a footballer who turned into a camp counsellor, making everyone laugh and doing the gross trials with a grin. She won because she was the ultimate team player, the kind of person who would share their last chip with you without a second thought. Watching her was like remembering why you love your favourite teacher.

What the Winners Teach Us About Real Life

Here’s the funny thing: the jungle winners mirror what we actually value in everyday life. We don’t want the loud, bossy person. We want the one who makes us a cup of tea when we’re down. We want the one who doesn’t panic when the wifi goes down. That’s why a camp cook like Myleene Klass (2006 win) or a gentle soul like Charlie Brooks (2012 win) took the crown. They were the quiet heroes of their own little worlds.

So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by your own life, just remember: you’re not eating a witchetty grub. You’re not sleeping in a hammock with spiders. And you’re certainly not being screamed at by Ant and Dec. The I’m a Celeb winners are simply the best of us: ordinary people who prove that kindness, a bit of humour, and a strong stomach go a long way. Now, pass the crisps.