Angry Ginge was crowned King of the Jungle after taking more than half of the vote during Sunday’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here final, beating Tom Read Wilson
In Angry Ginge’s hotel suite with gorgeous views over the Pacific Ocean, I’m sat opposite a slightly-bewildered looking King of the Jungle.
We are just a few hours after Ant and Dec announced his name to millions of viewers and I am not convinced it’s sunk in yet. There is understandably a look of a rabbit in the headlights about him.
Everyone who’s been in the Jungle say it’s difficult to re-adjust to normal life again. Particularly leaving the relative peace and quiet of camp..into a whirlwind of filming, interviews…and especially, other people.
Throw in the unexpected twist of his being crowned the winner and the whole thing can be …intense. But he puts in an admirable performance given he is a bit of a novice when it comes to the media.
Unflinchingly polite, intelligent and refreshingly honest, what you see is what you get. For a jaded showbiz hack like myself, it’s a breath of fresh air to meet someone in the public eye not touched by ego.
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You can see why he proved so popular in camp: viewers loved the fact he is a normal bloke. I’ve met his lovely mum Michelle, and sister Tasha, on my trip to Australia, and it’s obvious where he gets it from.
I remember talking to Coleen Rooney ’s mum Colette in the jungle last year, who was just as humble. It’s no coincidence that Ginge – like Coleen – proved so popular. Viewers can pick up on these things.
It’s fascinating to be in Ginge’s orbit so soon after his victory. Around me are “specially requested” sweets, cans of sugar-free Red Bull …and packets of Pringles.
I notice his Celebrity crown is placed delicately on the table in front of me. Apparently he hasn’t taken it out of his sight. His manager, who is perched on a seat at the back of the room, is a really affable guy who was earlier on snack duties.
He said he had no worries putting Ginge onto one of the biggest shows on TV. He laughs: “There is no side to him, we knew what he would be like.”
And that’s a 24-year-old who doesn’t forget where he comes from. Asked what it meant to make his mum happy, Ginge told me: “I want her to know how well she did raising us, and how much I do appreciate everything that she did.
“From literally being a single parent since I was probably one……and working all of the jobs that she had. Just to know that anything I can do would make her proud, is just the best feeling.”
He added it brought him great joy being able to bring her Down Under to watch him triumph.
“I remember her saying years ago, one of her main aims was to go with Australia, and I managed to get her a free holiday there, so I’ve done all right,” he says.
Source: Mirror
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