HARRY CROWNED KING OF THE JUNGLE
HARRY Redknapp was last night back in the arms of his beloved wife Sandra after being crowned king of the I’m A Celebrity... jungle.
The former football manager beat actress Emily Atack and actor John Barrowman in the final.
Harry, 71, had never watched I’m A Celebrity before but was a brilliant campmate who told great stories, got stuck into trials and had viewers in tears as he regularly described how Sandra, his wife of 54 years, meant the world to him.
Last night he said: “I am going to watch it in future. It’s tougher than I thought. The food is the greatest but it’s been an unbelievable experience.
He said it had been “very difficult” without his wife Sandra, adding: “It’s been a great experience, I’ve loved it. My mates all said, ‘You’ll last two days, Harry’, that I’d miss my family and football.
“I have laughed and laughed and laughed, it’s been brilliant. I can’t wait to kiss Sandra and have a shower.”
Bookmakers had Harry as favourite to win from early on during his threeweek stint in camp and he was 1/8 odds on going into last night’s final.
Ladbrokes’ spokesman Alex Apati said: “Never before have we seen a contestant head into the final weekend with odds so short, so it’s hard to say we’re surprised at the outcome!”
Harry is planning an I’m A Celebrity “jungle book” and is set to net a host of other deals on top of his £500,000 appearance fee.
He has already written five books and will spill the beans on his jungle adventure in a new autobiography – and it is understood publishers are already lining up offers.
Harry said his jungle highlight of the series was the banquet – “I’d not eaten for four days and to see that food, I’d never forget that.” He “wasn’t crazy” about the Dolls House task, but “other than that, for me to go and ruin Frank Sinatra and sing My Way in front of millions of people, it has been amazing and I’ve loved every minute of it”.
He also formed an unlikely friendship with TV legend Noel Edmonds, who appointed Harry his adviser when he was made a jungle Roman emperor.
Harry said of Sandra: “We were going out for four years, we’ve been married 50 years. The secret? Just find someone you love.”