I’m A Celebrity’s Angry Ginge forced to return prize just hours after win

Angry Ginge has been forced to return his prize already (Image: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! crowned its 25th winner on Sunday night’s show as Angry Ginge was named the new King of the Jungle. He beat Celebs Go Dating receptionist Tom Read Wilson and ex EastEnders star Shona McGarty to win in the live final. Ginge was handed a flower crown and a wooden sceptre by the reigning King of the Jungle, Danny Jones, after the announcement was made.

But despite taking home the win, Ginge will have to return his floral crown and wooden sceptre before leaving Australia and heading back to the UK. It’ll stay with the production team, ready to be passed over to the next King or Queen of the Jungle in 2026. Ginge will also receive no additional cash prize for winning the show, with celebrities only getting their pre-arranged fee, which Ginge’s reported to be an incredible sum of £100,000.

The celebs all reunited to celebrate the final (Image: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)

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The news of needing to return his crown was confirmed by Sam Thompson, who won the show prior to Danny, and revealed on This Morning at the time that he “didn’t get to keep anything”.

He said: “I had to give the sceptre back. I really wanted to bring it through airport security because it’s quite big. But yeah, I don’t have anything to show for it.”

But Ginge said of the experience that he didn’t do it to become King of the Jungle; he said he wanted the experience, as he had consistently watched the show with his family from a young age. His sister, Tasha Burtwistle, previously told the BBC that Ginge being on the show was a bucket-list moment.

She said: “I knew it was on his bucket list, something he never thought he’d actually get to do, so I was just really happy for him.”

Upon winning, Ginge instantly burst into tears and told hosts Ant and Dec: “I feel amazing. Honestly, it is a dream come true.

“I did not think I’d go all this way, never mind win, so thank you to everyone who voted.”

On his last night, Ginge was thrilled to get his choice of meal, which consisted of a Coke, a double cheeseburger and chips, pepperoni pizza, chicken tenders and a carrot cake for dessert.

He told his fellow finalists at the time: “Do you know what makes this even better? The fact that we’ve earned it. We’ve suffered trial after trial, challenge after challenge.”