The jungle A to Z
SO, that’s it. After three weeks of jungle japes, the latest winner of ITV’s annual antidote to dark nights and festive stress will be crowned tonight. Here’s our A to Z of the highs and lows of another smash-hit series of I’m A Celebrity.
A Ant and Dec. £30 million well spent in tying them to a new deal. Ant’s comic lust over Larry Lamb was just one running gag that had the nation smiling.
B Bushtucker Trials. More critters than ever but the drinking challenge – Newcastle Brown Snail anyone? – was a corker. Martin may still be being sick.
C Concern. Ola’s husband and former Strictly pro James Jordan was upset at the attention she was getting from the guys. Teaching Joel the flirty Dirty Dancing lift must have been about the last straw!
D Danny Baker. He made a bull in a china shop seem placid. He really kicked it off with Martin, much to the delight of show bosses, and took being first out with cheery aplomb.
E Expletives. There are always more than a few, but Wayne Bridge’s outburst was more understandable – did you see the size of that crocodile?
F Food. There’s never been so much in camp after trial triumphs.
G Gogglebox star Scarlett. Ditzy but smart, gutsy and funny, everyone warmed to her.
H Heights. Hats off all round to the five who walked the plank 32 storeys up a city skyscraper.
I Insults. Nowhere near as many as last year with Lady C, but Larry showed his true feelings, whispering that Martin was “a lower-middle-class snob”.
J Joel Dommett. One of only two singletons in camp, the comedian’s nice guy demeanour was shown when he gave up a phone call to a loved one so someone else could get one
K Kangaroo bits. Scarlett revealed she’d been eating Scotch eggs to prepare her for having to eat any during a Trial.
L Larry Lamb. Went from genial gent to more like his ruthless EastEnders character when he let loose at Martin.
M Martin. Could also have been under S for “shut up Martin”. The Homes Under The Hammer presenter was this year’s Marmite character – and several campmates certainly didn’t love him.
N Name-dropping. Lisa Snowden didn’t even need to trade on being George Clooney’s ex – but she did just happen to mention what big buds she was with Matt Damon.
O 007. Carol proved a top secret agent with the mission to convince she had the hots for Joel.
P Panic. Adam Thomas seemed to be on the verge of it on most trials. Q Quek. Olympic hero Sam may have won gold in Rio but it took the final week before she really showed any personality and got some
airtime. R Resilience. Sam displayed that and commendable calmness while having a cockroach syringed out of her ear.
S Shower scenes, a show staple, were fairly limited. But former Ola was happy to don a white bikini to show she hadn’t lost her dancer’s body.
T Tears. Just about everybody had a right good bubble. Sam, Jordan, Scarlett, Martin, Adam, Wayne and Larry, who wept uncontrollably at Jordan’s exit.
U Understated is a word never to be applied to Adam. Everything from the Emmerdale actor’s tears and screams to his laughs was LOUD!
V Vorderman. Former Countdown star Carol’s revelations about how she was a rubbish girlfriend were revealing. But saucy tales about sexy shopping trips and her number of boyfriends may have been an over-share!
W Wayne Bridge. The former footie star was a popular softie, tough enough for the trials but surprisingly sensitive.
X Xtra Factor. The new presenter of Celeb spin-off show Extra Camp, reigning Queen of the Jungle Vicky Pattison, had a howler when she told viewers it was X Factor’s Xtra Factor!
Y Yabby. Some animal lovers were up in arms at the Trial involving Martin holding a live one in his mouth.
Z Z-list celebs. Not that many would have known Jordan or Josh but they won over viewers – and have doubtless boosted their careers.