Sam Thompson from ‘I’m A Celeb’ Compelled to Return ITV Prize as Winnings Get Revoked
Following his triumph as the King of the Jungle on this year's 'I'm A Celebrity,' Sam Thompson saw his prize stripped away, leaving him empty-handed despite his victory.
Sam Thompson, Crowned King of the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Jungle, Reveals Prize Dilemma”
During a recent appearance on This Morning (December 18), Sam Thompson, accompanied by Strictly Come Dancing champions Ellie Leach and her partner Vito Coppola, surprised viewers with a revelation about his I’m A Celeb experience.
Discussing their respective show memorabilia, Sam disclosed that despite winning the hearts of the nation and being crowned the King of the Jungle, he was unable to keep any keepsakes from his time on the show. Responding to hosts Craig Doyle and Josie Gibson, the latter being a fellow campmate and finishing fourth on the show, Sam humorously stated, “I didn’t get to keep anything! They wouldn’t let me keep anything!
He proceeded to disclose that he had to surrender the iconic I’m A Celeb crown and sceptre. ‘I had to return the sceptre,’ he elaborated, expressing his desire to take it through airport security due to its size. ‘But yes, I have nothing to show for it,’ Sam concluded. Meanwhile, Strictly winner Ellie Leach proudly exhibited her coveted Strictly Glitterball trophy while Sam remained empty-handed.
In the realm of earnings for celebrities on the show, the financial gain for Sam remains undisclosed. Typically, celebrities are compensated between £30,000 and £600,000, as seen with Grace Dent reportedly receiving £100,000 and Jamie-Lynn securing a substantial £250,000. Nigel Farage’s astonishing £1.5 million payday prompted Sam’s reaction to The Times, stating, “It wasn’t about money or furthering my career; I genuinely desired to experience unconventional challenges, such as eating a camel’s penis. Meeting Ant [McPartlin] and Dec [Donnelly] was a personal aspiration as they are my lifelong icons.”
Returning from the jungle without tangible souvenirs, Sam carries numerous extraordinary memories from his expedition. Amidst the Australian wilderness, he cultivated a profound connection with former boxer Tony Bellow. Their genuine friendship became a national fascination, captivating audiences with their charming companionship. Despite the 10-year age gap between the 31-year-old and 41-year-old, their camaraderie extends far beyond the boundaries of the jungle.
Sam Expresses Longing for Tony on Instagram Stories Sam openly conveyed his yearning for Tony through his Instagram stories, while Tony reciprocated by endorsing Sam as the rightful King of the Jungle on social media. Both reached the final, with Sam narrowly surpassing Tony to claim the title of King of the Jungle 2023 on December 10.
Recently, Sam posted a poignant selfie on Instagram, captioned with ‘Missing you,’ tagging Tony. In another Instagram story, Sam was seen strolling with his girlfriend, Zara McDermott, 27, reminiscing about his jungle experiences with Tony, jesting, ‘She’s eager for me to hush about it.'”
