I’m so thrilled Dad’s shown the world how down-to-earth he is

DAD didn’t tell me he was going into the jungle. In fact, I only found out by reading it in our paper.

I thought, ‘This must be a joke’. We are the best of friends and rarely a day goes by when I don’t speak to him. Thinking he would find it funny, I called him. I was stunned when he admitted it was true, saying he didn’t tell me because he knew I would have told him off!

The thought of him in the jungle made me nervous. How would he cope without his phone, the racing

channel and knowing the football scores? He struggles to even make a cup of tea.

I’m really pleased Dad didn’t seek my advice before signing up for the show. Watching him for the last three weeks has filled me with pride; he has entertained everyone with his stories and made the nation howl with laughter. I’ve been tuning in every night with my boys. Their grandad made us all chuckle on Saturday when he had to get up close and personal with dozens of reptiles. ‘There are more snakes in football,’ he quipped to Holly and Dec.

That’s the man I know – a team player who does not give in and approaches everything with a smile. But there have been some tearjerking moments, too. My enduring memory from Dad’s time in the jungle will be the day he was reunited with my mum, Sandra.

Mum has been Dad’s rock throughout their 51 years of marriage. She has helped him enjoy all the highs and supported him through the lows of his career in football. I’m going to see him next weekend. I cannot wait to tell him just how well he has been received by the public.

I am so proud of the way he has shown everyone the real Harry. When you are stuck in front of a camera for three weeks, there is nowhere to hide. He has shown he is a funny, down-to-earth man who loves his family.

When he gets his phone back, it won’t stop ringing. He’ll be begging to go back to the jungle!