QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE
Actress Jacqueline Jossa takes the I’m a Celeb title
QUEEN of the Jungle Jacqueline Jossa last night left I’m a Celebrity and headed straight for crisis talks with her husband Dan Osborne.
The former EastEnders actor, 27, and ex-TOWIE star Dan, 28, are battling to save their marriage after claims he cheated with other women emerged while she was on the ITV show.
A show source said: “It feels like Jacqueline has grown and is stronger than when she went in there.
“She loves Dan but they have split up several times before so it would not be a huge surprise if they split up again in the future, despite Dan denying all the allegations and insisting he is not worried about the situation. Time will tell.”
Before being crowned the winner, Jacqueline said of her time on the show: “It was not what I expected. It was a lot harder. I didn’t think it would be such a turning point in life, I went in as one person, I feel like I have come out as a different person.
“I’ve grown in confidence and found who I am as a person.”
She added: “I think it’s so easy to care what other people think of you, trolls, people who say nasty things for the sake of it and I try to change their opinion.
“Here, you have no choice, you have to be you. Here, I have different people bigging me up of different ages, I can’t really work out what is happening.
“I’ve always been known as Lauren from EastEnders, or a doormat, or whatever you want to call it and coming here, I have actually proved myself.”
And after taking the title, a tearful Jossa said: “I have no words. I can’t believe this has just happened.” She then reeled off a list of special people in her life including her parents, children – and husband Dan.
As well looming talks with Dan,
Jacqueline will learn from her agent there are TV offers for her. She said before going into the jungle she would like to try comedy and other types of TV and, along with other promo deals, her stint in the jungle could be worth up to £250,000 to her.
Her mum Selina Jossa said: “In our eyes she is a queen.”
On the last show, self-confessed superfan of I’m A Celebrity… Andy Whyment cried at getting to the final.
The Coronation Street star, who plays Kirk Sutherland, said: “I can’t believe it and I’m getting emotional. I’m so chuffed, it’s just nice to know that people are voting for me.
“People have only seen me playing a character for 19 years, so a lot of people getting behind Andy rather than Kirk means a lot to me.
“I never thought I’d get to the final. All 12 of us have got on really well.”
Speaking in camp on Saturday, he added: “My best moment was getting to meet everyone when we did the trial. The group have been amazing and I just felt like part of the team.
“The worst moment by a million miles was drinking blended fish eyes. I have never done anything so grim in my life. I will never forget my time in there and it has been an amazing experience and one I’ll never forget.”
Andy, 38, could celebrate his jungle success by renewing his wedding vows. He and wife Nichola, who have two children Thomas and Hollie, have discussed doing it for several years, and friends say being apart has made him realise what he has got.
Andy said: “What I have learned is how much I love my family. I have never gone a day before without speaking to Nic and the kids. Being in here proves to me how much that woman means to me and how much I love my kids as well.” Proud Nichola said: “In 16 years, there has never been a day where we haven’t spoken. I thought I was doing well putting a brave face on but my mate was like, ‘You seem really sad’.” Andy’s success in the jungle is unlikely to change him. Before leaving Manchester, he arranged a coming home meal with best pal and Corrie co-star Alan Halsall at their local Chinese restaurant. He also insisted he would love to carry on playing Kirk for as long as possible. He said: “It is 19 years in mid-December and I have always said I will stay there as long as they will have me. I love the show. I’ve been brought up on Coronation Street. I only learn my bits, I don’t read the scripts and I’d rather not know what is going on. I watch it as a fan still. Always have.
“Me and my wife Nic watch it and Hollie will watch it. I watch Emmerdale and Corrie.
“We always sit down at 7pm and watch them.”
Roman Kemp, who finished in third, will become “a big ITV star” after his success in camp, a source said.
Going into the final he said his “legs were like jelly”, adding: “I would never have thought I’d get this far.”
The 26-year-old hosts Capital’s
Breakfast show but is set for more screen time too. He was a digital presenter for X Factor in 2016 and it is thought he will be offered presenting gigs on the channel.
He is an obvious candidate to return next year as part of ITV2 show Extra Camp.
An ITV source estimated he could make up to £500,000 from TV next year.
Friends are also speculating about him getting engaged to girlfriend Anne-Sophie Flury after he cried in camp when she sent him a love letter. After he left the show, he said of his experience: ”That was the best thing of my life, I have never had more fun, I couldn’t be more grateful.”