I’m A Celeb’s Danny Jones was crowned King of the Jungle after failing to put a foot wrong on the show, after being favourite to win from the very start. However, the twist in this fairytale ending is a bit less magical – he had to give back the regal sceptre and crown he was handed on the programme, and there’s not a penny of prize money to take home.
Despite facing off tough competition from Coleen Rooney and Reverend Richard Coles, it was Danny who won audience affection, sharing touching tales of his anxiety battles and smashing through the trials. However, he’s unlikely to complain about the lack of a prize to keep. Fees for appearing on the show are famously chunky and winners go on to make vast fortunes on the back of their TV success.
(Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
On winning I’m A Celeb last night, an emotional Danny expressed his gratitude: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It’s a lovely feeling to be liked. I gave my all in there, and this means so much to me.”
Still, not everything was a Royal affair, as Danny wasn’t permitted to keep his winnings, much to his disappointment. Chatting on This Morning post-victory, he shared the unexpected news with a mix of bemusement and humour, laughing: “I didn’t get to keep anything! They wouldn’t let me keep anything!
“I had to give the sceptre back. I really wanted to bring it through airport security because it’s quite big,” he continued, joking about the missed opportunity, reports the Express.
That might be for the best because Danny explained he’d broken the wooden sceptre – in reality a large crudely-carved stick – moments after receiving it, appearing in an Instagram video having yanked the top off.
To top off the non-material win, it turns out the ITV show doesn’t dish out any cash bonuses for its kings and queens – something other reality TV champs might be used to. All contestants get a guaranteed flat rate for going into the jungle, provided they stick it out for at least 72 hours – making sure viewers get a good dose of drama before anyone throws in the towel.
The fierce competition was round off with Danny’s well-deserved win, as Wagatha Christie herself, Rooney, and late fan-favourite Reverend Coles, completed the line-up for the finale.
From the start, the bookies had their bets on Danny, and his endearing journey through the series only cemented his status as this year’s jungle champ. Even though there weren’t any prizes to take home, Danny cherished his time in the reality show wilderness: “This is totally insane. I’ve learned so much about myself, and that’s because the campmates were unbelievable.”
He faced the challenges head-on, admitting, “It was way harder than it comes across on TV. You’re hungry, you’re tired, you’re lethargic.”
No trophy in hand, but Jones has left the jungle with something worth more than any check – the love of the audience and the pride of overcoming one of telly’s most gruelling challenges.
(Image: (Image: Instagram))
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