From happy ever afters to absolute misery, a lot has happened since I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here launched in 2002

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! draws to a close tonight with McFly’s Danny Jones, WAG Coleen Rooney and Reverend Richard Coles competing to be crowned King or Queen of the jungle.

The series will be known as having one of the friendliest – but wettest camps – on records, with the celebs trying to keep their spirits up while being battered by storms and rain for days on end.

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse narrowly missed out on a place in the final three as she was kicked out following the Celebrity Cyclone trial on Saturday night. Oti told hosts Ant and Dec she felt “mentally and spiritually stronger” for being on the show and would be happy for any of the trio left in camp to win.

As viewers prepare to crown the latest King or Queen of the Jungle, we take a look at the previous winners and find out what they’re up to now…

Sam Thompson (Series 23, 2023)

Sam Thompson beams after being crowned I’m A Celebrity winner in 2023 (Image: @p_wicks01/Instagram)

I’m A Celebrity superfan Sam Thompson was clearly delighted to be hailed King of the Jungle in 2023 when he saw off competition from his best friend in camp Tony Bellew.

The show gave a huge boost to Sam’s career, as the Made in Chelsea star’s podcast with Pete Wicks ‘Staying Relevant’ going from strength to strength and bringing in thousands more listeners. He also impressed ITV bosses so much he was invited to return this year to co-host spin off show Unpacked alongside Joel Dommett and Kemi Rodgers.

And from reality TV to movie roles, this year Sam cameoed in the UK version of Inside Out 2, as Security Man Sam, a character who finds himself on a chase with the emotions.

Jill Scott (Series 22, 2022)

Jill became the 2022 Queen of the Jungle (Image: ITV1/UNPIXS)

Loveable Lioness Jill Scott took home the title of Queen of the Jungle when the show returned to Australia in 2022 after two years away. She retired from football in 2022 but has continued to keep a close eye on the sport. Jill has appeared as a pundit for several Men’s and Women’s matches including England Men’s Euros qualifying games against Malta and North Macedonia, and the UEFA Women’s Champions League final.

This year, she became the first female player to captain England for Soccer Aid. In June 2023, she became the first female player to captain England for Soccer Aid and became a captain on the panel show A League of their Own.

Jill has also become a regular on The Overlap sports channel where she appears on the award winning podcast Stick to Football with Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright.

Away from football, Jill owns a coffee shop in Manchester with her fiancée Shelly Unitt.

Danny Miller (Series 21, 2021)

Danny was the second winner of I’m A Celebrity set in Wales (Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Emmerdale star Danny Miller was crowned King of the Castle for the show’s second year in Wales. He beat Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson and The Saturdays’ Frankie Bridge to the crown. Shortly after his castle stint, Danny returned to Emmerdale briefly as Aaron Dingle, where he went back to the Dales to make up with his sister Liv.

Although Aaron promised his family he was back for good, it was too good to be true as the character made a dramatic exit as part of the soap’s 50th anniversary storyline. As Danny discussed his brief return to the soap, he revealed his busy schedule wouldn’t allow him to be in the Dales for long, but is open to coming back.

He told Leeds Live: “I’ve got a few things on at the end of the year – including a pantomime and other stuff. Then I’ve got a job, so it is just not the right time. But I’m not one of those actors who says ‘that’s it now, I’ve shelved it’.”

Giovanna Fletcher (Series 20, 2020)

Giovanna was the first Queen of the Castle (Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Giovanna was the first celeb to be crowned Queen of the Castle. The author and blogger, 38, won the nation’s hearts with her appearance on the hit ITV show – which was relocated to Wales amid the pandemic. Giovanna’s career has gone from strength to strength since her castle stint.

She has continued to write books and present her podcast and took to the stage in a production of 2:22 – A Ghost Story. Giovanna played the role of Jenny, which has also been played by Cheryl, Jaime Winstone, Mandip Gill, Laura Whitmore, at the Gielgud Theatre following its run at the Noel Coward Theatre. In 2022, Giovanna fronted her own travel show, titled Giovanna Fletcher: Made In Italy, where she and her family take a trip to Italy to relive some of her most precious moments from her childhood and explore their roots.

Jacqueline Jossa (Series 19, 2019)

Poor Jacqueline had a rough ride in the jungle after campmate Myles Stephenson apparently told the actress her husband Dan Osbourne had had a thing with his ex, Gabby Allen. Upon being crowned queen, Jac broke down and vowed that she would be seen as a ‘doormat’ no more and became the first winner to cancel all interviews.

She and Dan hit back at the naysayers, sharing a cute holiday snap and assuring fans that the ‘past is in the past’. She wrote: “We have gone through a very long journey, to be where we are today. Happy. Anyone that thinks differently, don’t Comment negative comments unless you want to be blocked.” [sic]

She continued: “You do not know the ins and outs of what we have both been through, to get to a good place now. I am proud to be with my husband, stand strong and keep our family together. I will not let stupid comments pull me back to the past and dampen my sparkle!! I’m past it and you all need to be in order to follow me. Thanks!! Obvs love all you positive ppl that just get life!!️ thanking you!”

The couple went on to buy a swanky £1.2 million mansion in Essex, where they now live with their two daughters Ella, eight, and Mia, five. Jacqueline now regularly collaborates with fast fashion brand In The Style to create collections and is due to reprise her role in EastEnders as Lauren Branning.

Jacqueline recently revealed her visit to Walford will not be a flying one. “I haven’t actually come on at all and spoken about the fact I am going back to EastEnders. How wild is that?” she told her 3.6 million fans on Instagram. “I haven’t spoken about it at all. It’s as permanent as anyone there is permanent,” she explained. “Obviously, you can get written out at any time but yeah, it’s not a flying visit this time, it’s back back.”

Harry Redknapp (Series 18, 2018)

Harry Redknapp won the show despite never watching it before (Image: ITV)

Football manager Harry had never watched I’m a Celeb before and had no idea what was involved, but decided to sign up anyway. From the get go he was a favourite among his fellow campmates and viewers at home, with everyone instantly warming to his down-to-earth nature and humour.

He talked frequently about his wife of 54 years, Sandra, and their blissfully happy relationship they’d began when they were just 17. They recently sold their Sandbanks four-storey mansion in the lavish Millionaire’s Row to build to Sandra’s ‘dream home’ nearby. Harry and Sandra recently released a joint book, When Harry Met Sandra, which explores their more than 50 year-long romance.

Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo (Series 17, 2017)

Georgia came into the public eye though E4 reality series Made in Chelsea where she was used to living the high life. Despite her privately educated background and Conservative political views, Toff was a down to earth campmate and popular among her fellow celebrities and fans, too.

She beat Iain Lee and Jamie Lomas to the title and couldn’t have been more shocked. She’s also starred in Celebs Go Dating and landed herself a presenting slot on This Morning. Toff’s used the dosh from winning wisely and has bought two holiday homes in Devon, where she was brought up.

This year Toff got engaged to BrewDog businessman James Watt – revealing she met the millionaire after a mutual friend set them up on a blind date over the summer not long after she split with fraudster ex George Cottrell. She has since gone Instagram official with him and has admitted she hopes their romance will last.

She gushed: “We’re really happy. I think I knew [how strong their connection was] from the second date. I mean it was just classic James and I. The first date was like, stereotypical, really lovely time, knew I really liked him, great.”

Scarlett Moffatt (Series 16, 2016)

Scarlett had success after her stint on the show (Image: ITV)

After the success of Channel 4’s Gogglebox, Scarlett Moffatt also emerged victorious from the Aussie jungle. Her win brought her to the attention of hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who took their fellow Geordie under their wings. She co-hosted Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway in 2017 and 2018, helmed a reboot of iconic dating show Streetmate, and returned to the jungle to co-host Extra Camp for series 17.

Scarlett has continued her hosting career as she fronts ITV’s Love Bites as well as her own podcast Scarlett Moffat Wants To Believe. She also fronted a documentary on Tourette’s in 2022.

Since winning the show, Scarlett has also enjoyed a lot of happiness and success in her personal life. In June 2023 she gave birth to her first child, a baby boy named Jude. She shares the tot with her policeman beau Scott Dobinson. Months after welcoming their bundle of joy, Scarlett announced the pair have got engaged.

The Gogglebox star took to Instagram in November 2023 to share the joyful news, much to the excitement of her adoring online fanbase. “Mondays are my new favourite day,” she captioned the post, which shows the words ‘Marry Me’ illuminated in block letters across their living room.

Vicky Pattison (Series 15, 2015)

Vicky went on the show after leaving Geordie Shore

Vicky Pattison seemingly hoped I’m A Celeb would elevate her fledgling career after quitting Geordie Shore. She reinvented herself as a fitness guru and was hired to present spin-off show Extra Camp in 2016 before being swiftly replaced by Scarlett Moffatt after just one season.

In 2018 she starred in the Aussie version of the show and partnered with Dom Joly on Celebrity Haunted, and appeared on Celebrity Coach Trip.

This year Vicky got married to beau Ercan Ramadan after a romantic proposal in Dubai. The pair said ‘I do’ twice first in London and then in Puglia, Italy

Carl Fogarty (Series 14, 2014)

Carl Fogarty won the 2014 series (Image: Nigel Wright)

Superbike champion Carl “Foggy” Fogarty was the winner of series 14 after chowing down on a camel penis and ostrich anus in the live final. Since winning the show, Foggy has been something of a matchmaker – setting up fellow contestant and X Factor star Jake Quickenden with his own daughter, Danielle.

Foggy had previously said he worried his daughter was “fussy” in terms of men. Things didn’t work out between Jake and Danielle, though as The X Factor star has now gone on to marry Sophie Church. The pair also share a son together while Jake is a proud stepdad to Sophie’s son from a previous romance.

Meanwhile, Carl isn’t the only one in his family to have enjoyed a stint on reality TV since his I’m A Celebrity appearance. Foggy’s daughter Claudia, entered the Love Island villa on the winter series of the ITV dating show. She sparked a romance with Casey O’Gorman in the villa but it soon came to an end after his head was turned.

Kian Egan (Series 13, 2013)

The Westlife star won in 2013 (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Westlife star Kian Egan featured in the 2013 series after his band split and the girl group he managed (named Wonderland) failed. After winning the show he released his debut solo album which reached a modest number 9 in the UK charts. He has gone on to star as a coach on The Voice of Ireland (the Irish version of The Voice), tied-the-knot with actress and Wonderland singer Jodi Albert, and is now a proud father of two sons.

Meanwhile, Westlife have continued to release music and tour after reforming in 2018. Kian is back singing with Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan – and their 2021 album, Wildest Dreams, reached Number 2 in the charts both in the UK and Ireland. The band continue to go from strength to strength and toured the USA and Canada for the first time ever in 2024.

Charlie Brooks (Series 12, 2012)

Charlie took home the crown back in 2012

EastEnders beauty Charlie Brooks scooped the jungle crown in 2012. Best known for playing Janine Butcher on the BBC soap before her stint in the jungle, Charlie continued to play the character until 2014. She has appeared in a couple of other TV shows including Suspects and featured on stage in plays – and has also gathered a following due to her fitness achievements.

In 2021, Charlie returned to Albert Square as Janine which has seen her character shake things up as she has fallen in love with Mick Carter (played by Danny Dyer). She left the soap once again in an explosive exit on Boxing Day 2022. She told The Sun on Sunday: “I was only ever due back to EastEnders for a year, but when [exec producer] Chris Clenshaw presented me with his idea for the story, I couldn’t say no to staying a little longer.”

Away from reality shows and the world of acting, Charlie is a mum-of-one as she welcomed her now teenage daughter, Kiki Brooks-Truman, back in December 2004 when she was dating businessman Tony Truman. Charlie is now single – but is happily in the dating game, with reports in the summer of 2023 revealing she has been swiping on raunchy dating app Feeld.

Dougie Poynter (Series 11, 2011)

Dougie won in 2011 (Image: ITV)

McFly bassist Dougie Poynter was winner of the show in 2011 during a break from his chart topping band. Since winning the show, McFly have continued to release music and tour – and teamed up with Busted to form superband McBusted. He has also enjoyed success as a model – walking for iconic fashion label Dolce & Gabbana in their fashion shows. Dougie is also a children’s book writer and even teamed up with bandmate Tom Fletcher to write stories for kids.

Reports this year revealed the bassist was secretly dating Netflix star Yasmeen Scott – who was a cast member of the hit show The Sandman. A source told The Sun: “Dougie actually got together with Yasmeen not long after he split from his ex [model Maddy Elmer]. It has been smooth sailing since then. They have been on holidays together and are really into each other.”

Stacey Solomon (Series 10, 2010)

Stacey Solomon won the 10th series of I’m a Celebrity

Stacey Solomon ’s lovable personality helped her win the 2010 series a year after coming runner up to Joe McElderry and Olly Murs on the X Factor. She went on to release her debut album, Shy, in 2015 and became a regular panelist on Loose Women in 2016. She took over from Laura Whitmore as a presenter on I’m A Celeb Extra Camp but was dropped from the show in 2017. Her romance with co-host Joe Swash is still going strong and the pair tied the knot in 2021.

The busy Loose Women star is also a mum-of-five – sharing 15-year-old son Zach with ex-boyfriend Dean Cox, 11-year-old son Leighton with ex-fiancé Aaron Barnham, and children Rex, Rose and baby Belle with Joe, aged four, two and one respectively. Stacey is also stepmother of Swash’s son from a previous relationship.

Stacey took an extended break from Loose Women this year to soak up the quality time with her young children .

Gino D’Acampo (Series 9, 2009)

Gino D’Acampo won the series in 2009

Smooth-talking Celebrity chef Gino charmed his way to the final in 2009. But after leaving the jungle, he and co-star, Hollyoaks actor Stuart Manning, were charged with animal cruelty for killing and cooking a rat while in exile. However, the charges were dropped after ITV producers took responsibility and coughed up a £3,000 fine.

He has since been a regular chef on ITV’s This Morning and was team captain on Celebrity Juice but later quit the series. Gino has also fronted his own TV shows including Gino’s Italian Escape and There’s No Taste Like Home – and opened a new flagship restaurant in London.

Joe Swash (Series 8, 2008)

Emotional Joe after being crowned King of The Jungle (Image: Rex)

EastEnders star Joe Swash jungled his way to glory in 2008 having been written out of the BBC One soap earlier that year. From 2009 he hosted the spin-off, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here NOW! before it was renamed Extra Camp in 2016. In June 2007, his then-fiancee Emma Sophocleous, gave birth to their first child, son Harry Swash, but they split just seven months later.

In November 2009 he was declared bankrupt – although his agent Becca Barr insisted it was simply a mix-up and that he wasn’t in financial difficulty. The year after he met X Factor star Stacey Solomon when she won the show, and in 2016 they confirmed they were an item.

Their son Rex was born in May 2019 and Stacey is a regular on Loose Women. In October 2021, on Stacey’s birthday, the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter named Rose, together. And in July 2022 the couple tied the knot in a ceremony which took place in the grounds of their home, Pickle Cottage. They later welcomed their third child together Belle.

Christopher Biggins (Series 7, 2007)

Christopher Biggins won the show in 2007 (Image: ITV)

Veteran actor Christopher Biggins took the I’m A Celeb crown in 2007 and enjoyed something of a career renaissance. However, that stalled after a disastrous appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 where he upset viewers by making derogatory remarks about bisexual people and was booted from the house amid accusations of anti-Semitic comments.

He insisted he wasn’t a bigot and apologised, telling The Sun: “I am mortified by what’s happened, really mortified. Most of my friends, in fact, are Jewish. I apologised to Big Brother and [housemate] Katie [Waissel].”

Matt Willis (Series 6, 2006)

Matt Willis triumphed in 2006 (Image: Rex Features)

With Busted two years in the past, Matt hoped a jungle stint could help his solo career and ended up leaving with the crown. He went on to enjoy huge success in Busted and McFly mash-up band, McBusted, before Busted themselves reformed to critical acclaim.

He and his then-girlfriend Emma Griffiths – now known as Emma Willis – co-hosted the ITV spin off from 2006 until 2008 before tying the knot and welcoming children Isabelle, 13, Ace, 10, and Trixie, six. Matt has since worked on on a candid documentary with the BBC where he discussed his battle with addiction.

Carol Thatcher (Series 5, 2005)

Carol Thatcher was the second female winner of I’m A Celeb (Image: Daily Mirror)

Journalist Carol managed to emerge from the shadow of her mother, the late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, to win I’m A Celeb 2005. Her victory propelled her into a correspondent role for the BBC’s One Show, which lasted until 2009 when the broadcaster dropped her after she was apparently heard calling a black cricket player a “golliwog” in the green room.

She refused to apologise, telling the Guardian: “I stand by what I said. I wasn’t going to apologise. I never meant it in a racist way. It was shorthand. I described someone’s appearance colloquially – someone I happen to greatly admire.”

Joe Pasquale (Series 4, 2004)

Joe Pasquale won I’m A Celebrity in 2004 (Image: Daily Mirror)

Comedian Joe left the jungle with the crown on his head in series four, which was the second series of the year. His win briefly revived his career and earned him an ITV special titled An Audience with Joe Pasquale in 2005. He still makes the occasional TV appearance and was guest host on The Paul O’Grady Show in 2009 and The Nightly Show in 2017.

Joe has been married twice; first to Alison who he wed in 1978 and divorced in 1986 and shares children Kerry, Vicky and Dani. He then married current wife Debbie and they welcomed a son named Joe Tracini who is an actor known for playing Dennis Savage in Hollyoaks.

Kerry Katona (Series 3, 2004)

Kerry won in 2004 (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Atomic Kitten’s Kerry became the first female winner in 2004 just months after Brian McFadden left her for Delta Goodrem. Since then she’s continued to hit the headlines thanks to her turbulent relationships and heartbreaks. She was crowned Celebrity Mum of the Year in 2005 and landed an advertising deal with Iceland but ended up going to rehab where she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

On Valentine’s Day 2007 she married taxi driver Mark Croft in Gretna Green and their daughter Heidi was born six days later. They split in 2011 and Kerry moved on with rugby league player George Kay. Kerry almost died giving birth to their daughter Dylan-Jorge in April 2014 and later said the trauma set George on a toxic downwards spiral.

They married in September 2014 before splitting the following October when she filed assault charges against the sports star. They reunited in 2015 and tried to make a go of things, but the final straw came when George suffered another public meltdown in July 2017.

George died on July 6, 2019 after suffering a suspected overdose. Kerry is now dating nutrition expert Ryan Mahoney. Last year, Kerry released a book titled Kerry Katona: Whole Again, where she documented the abuse she suffered at the hands of her late ex George. Kerry also landed her first presenting role in 20 years with BBC Radio Five Live.

This winter Kerry is starring in panto alongside her former I’m A Celebrity campmate Katie Price – the two will play the ugly sisters in Cinderella.

Phil Tufnell (Series 2, 2003)

Phil Tufnell won I’m A Celeb in 2003 – and returned for the All Star version, alongside Carol Vorderman, in 2023 (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Fresh from retirement, Tufnell was crowned King of the Jungle in 2003. He went on to do the reality rounds, starring in in 2009 and The Jump in 2015. He’s also popped up on game shows including The Chase, and was a team captain on A Question of Sport between 2005 and 2015. In 2018 he joined Australia’s Seven Network as a commentator for the BBL and Sri Lankan Test matches.

Phil has been married three times – first to Alison Squires from 1986 until 1989, then to Lisa Bar who he married in 1994 and divorced 1998, and is now married to Dawn Brown, who he tied-the-knot with in 2005. He has two daughters; one with an ex-girlfriend named Jane McEvoy, and one with his second wife, Lisa. He returned to I’m A Celeb in 2023 for the All Stars version that filmed in South Africa and he ended in third place.

Tony Blackburn (Series 1, 2002)

Tony Blackburn was the first ever I’m A Celeb winner (Image: Rex)

Radio DJ Tony Blackburn was the winner of the first ever I’m A Celeb back in 2002. After leaving the jungle he continued to work for the BBC but was abruptly sacked after the Dame Janet Smith Review report linked him to the investigation into the Jimmy Savile scandal.

Blackburn insisted he was innocent of any wrongdoing and said he was “devastated” by the sacking. He was reinstated on October 19, 2016 after he threatened to sue. That same year he underwent prostate surgery after waking up in extreme pain but was found not to have cancer. He continues to work for BBC Radio and hosts a show each Sunday on BBC Radio 2.