I’m A Celebrity’s Sam Thompson was crowned the 2023 King of the Jungle on Sunday night.
The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, won the hit ITV jungle series after a total of 12 celebrities headed into the Australian jungle to rough it for three weeks, beating Nigel Farage and Tony Bellew to the crown. Appearing on Monday’s Lorraine, Sam was asked about winning the show and his family’s sweet reaction back in London after girlfriend, Zara McDermott, hosted a screening party of the final episode.
Host Lorraine Kelly said: “Zara couldn’t be there because she was doing Strictly Come Dancing, all the schedules didn’t really work out, but I don’t know if you’ve seen this. You should have seen her reaction and your family’s reaction when you won. It was amazing!”
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ITV)
To which Sam sweetly said: “You know what, I’ve seen a clip but I haven’t even properly turned my phone on yet but someone showed me and it made me cry! I was like that’s all my nearest and dearest, all of my friends and colleagues all being in that room together.
“I’ve never had that amount of people support me or need to support me for anything. It’s such an amazing feeling, quite overwhelming, I’m a very very very lucky person to have that around me!”
Later on the show, Lorraine had a sweet surprise message from Zara, who said she was so proud of her boyfriend. Zara proudly said: “Sam, I just want to say I don’t think the word proud even cuts it anymore because the way you carried yourself in that jungle, the way you made everyone feel so comfortable.
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ITV)
“You brought such a sparkle to that camp. I’ve never met anyone like you before. You are so beautifully unique. And you are incredible and I love you literally so much. And I cannot wait to have you back right here. Yay.” Sam was left touched by the message, sweetly saying: “I miss her so much and I can’t wait to get home to her!”
It comes as Sam got emotional on Sunday night after winning the show, he told hosts Ant and Dec: “I feel overwhelmed, I didn’t even think I would get invited on the show. Asked if he had a message for voters, he said: “I am so grateful, I have dreamed of being on this show. You just made a boy’s dream come true.”
Sam also told the presenting duo: “I never knew I could be as happy as I am right now, it’s been magical. It’s like a dream I don’t want you to wake me up from. I got asked for my down moments in there and I don’t know, even the moments I felt low I was like ‘I am feeling low in the jungle’.
“There were so many amazing people I never thought I would get to spend time with.” Asked about the prospect of winning he said: “I just wanted to hit cyclone. Anything else is a bonus and feels like a dream.”
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