As the latest batch of campmates head out to Australia, only one will return as the new King or Queen of the Jungle – joining an illustrious list of 24 former champions.
Now in its 25th series, over 250 celebrities have had a taste of life in the camp (some quite literally, thanks to the gruesome eating challenges). One celebrity in particular loved it so much that she has even participated in the show twice – shoutout to Katie Price. And while Price wasn’t able to claim the crown in either of her stints, she did at least leave series 3 as Peter Andre’s ‘Mysterious Girl’.
Critics often say contestants on the show are just “Z-list” celebrities, but many former campmates have had their careers reignited by the show and became national favourites. It can be very good PR for celebrities who do well. With the show watched by millions each night, it provides massive exposure and a chance to showcase their personality to a new audience.
Some of the best examples in recent years include Harry Redknapp, Roman Kemp, and Scarlett Moffatt. Despite already being a well-respected former football manager, Redknapp walked out of the jungle to a whole new audience as the nation’s beloved Grandad, making numerous television appearances since. While Kemp and Moffatt both found themselves becoming major TV figures following their time in the jungle.
However, it can also be bad PR, especially if you come across in a negative light. A celebrity can quickly become a target for criticism and online backlash. And in some cases, there have even been celebrities removed from the camp. But whether it’s a career-boosting redemption arc or a PR disaster waiting to happen, I’m a Celebrity has become one of the most fascinating case studies in how reality TV shapes public perception.
As series 25 gets underway and new celebrities enter the jungle, we decided to take a look at the past 23 years to discover which previous participants have had to tackle the most Bushtucker Trials, and which participants won the most stars for camp. We also look at who has had to endure the most consecutive trials.
New audiences, lucrative opportunities, and a place amongst “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” royalty awaits.
What’s in this article:
- Kings and Queens of the Jungle
- Who has faced the most Bushtucker trials?
- Who has won the most stars for camp?
- Most consecutive trials faced?
Kings and Queens of the Jungle
The start of a new series has become synonymous with the countdown to Christmas over the years, with ITV even tapping into the Christmas countdown to mark the launch of this year’s series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me out of Here with their latest advertising campaign. So you may be surprised to find out that the very first series of the show actually began airing late August into early September, when the first-ever BBC Radio 1 DJ, Tony Blackburn, was crowned the first-ever King of the Jungle. Series 2 and 3 saw a change in scheduling again, with the series airing late April into May, and late January into February, respectively. Former cricketer, Phil Tufnell took the crown in series 2, before former Atomic Kitten singer, Kerry Katona, became our first Queen of the Jungle in series 3.
By series 4, ITV landed on the scheduling that would stick to the current day, with the series kicking off in mid-November, and won by comedian Joe Pasquale. Series 5 then provided perhaps the most surprising winner as Carol Thatcher, daughter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was crowned as the second Queen of the Jungle. Series 6 kickstarted the most consecutive wins by gender to date, with four series in a row all ending with Kings of the Jungle, as Matt Willis, Christopher Biggins, Joe Swash, and Gino D’Acampo all took the crown.
Stacey Solomon reclaimed the crown for the girls in Series 10, kicking off a successful decade for female reality stars during the twenty-tens as Vicky Pattison, Scarlett Moffatt, and Georgia Toffolo all claimed the crown. It was a strong decade for Eastenders actresses too, as Charlie Brooks and Jacqueline Jossa both emerged as Queen of the Jungle.
Series 20 and 21 brought the biggest change to the show since the scheduling of the early series as the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. With Australia closing its international borders, the decision was made to relocate filming to Gwrych Castle in Abergele, Wales. Keeping to the same schedule, battling the North Wales weather in mid-November could be reason enough to shout “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!”, but the celebrities braved the harsh conditions and Giovanna Fletcher and Danny Miller were crowned Queen and King of Wales during the Covid years.
Returning to Australia three years ago, we’ve had one new queen in Jill Scott, and two new kings in Sam Thompson and Danny Jones. Jones’ win even made it 2-1 to McFly in the Busted vs McFly battle, as he joined his bandmate Dougie Poynter as being crowned King of the Jungle. And if we’re being kind, we might even say it’s 3-1 to McFly since Tom Fletcher’s wife Giovanna is a former Queen too…
As we head into the latest series, another pattern emerges from across the show's 23-year history. A three-way battle between musicians, reality stars, and actors, each of whom have claimed the crown five times. With 14 kings and 10 queens so far, the jungle is open once again. Will an old favourite profession reclaim its lead, or will a new type of celebrity rise to the top of the Australian jungle?
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Who has faced the most Bushtucker trials?
The more recent series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has featured more Bushtucker Trials competed by multiple contestants than it used to in the past, so the majority of this list is made up of stars who competed in series 16 onwards. And delving through the data from the past 23 years, former Emmerdale actor, Adam Thomas, currently stands victorious in the greatest number of trials completed. Swapping the farm for the jungle, Thomas was incredible entertainment for viewers, hilariously shouting and screaming his way through a record-breaking 12 Bushtucker challenges. Adam came third in season 16 after rival competitors Scarlett Moffatt and Joel Dommett beat the soap star out of the top two spots.
It’s a six-way tie for second spot with numerous campmates all having faced 10 Bushtucker Trials each over the years. Adam’s series 16 campmates Moffatt and Dommett both feature, while a special shoutout has to go to series 7 contestant Janice Dickinson – the only campmate to feature from before series 16. Janice’s time in the jungle was both iconic and chaotic, with the star bringing the drama and clashing with fellow campmates. But despite rubbing her campmates up the wrong way, audiences found her personality and screaming throughout trials thoroughly entertaining, and voted her into the final, where she finished as runner-up behind King Christopher Biggins.
Series 19 stars Jacqueline Jossa and Roman Kemp put in some of the best performances the show has ever seen as they became fan favourites throughout 10 trials each, with Jossa being crowned Queen and Kemp finishing in third place. Perhaps one of the most controversial former contestants was former Health Secretary Matt Hancock. The British public made their feelings towards the politician clear by voting for Hancock to do 10 trials altogether.
For third spot it’s another tie, with five former campmates all having completed nine Bushtucker Trials in total. Former King of the Jungle, Sam Thompson, is among the five, as are actors Shane Richie and Owen Warner, football legend Ian Wright, and another highly-controversial former contestant in Nigel Farage.
We were surprised that the iconic Gillian McKeith didn’t make the list after her infamous fainting, but she was still one of the most highly voted for celebs to take part in the trials, which were purely based on the public vote. And despite stealing the show in series 15, Lady Colin Campbell (‘Lady C’) just misses out after only taking part in eight menacing trials.
Unsurprisingly, most of the stars on this list made it all the way to the grand final and some even took home the crown. But the true question we want to know is: who from this series will be joining our honoured list? While Adam Thomas currently remains the King of the Bushtucker Trials, could his title be lost in the next few weeks?
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Who has won the most stars for camp?
When it comes to securing stars some of the biggest winners have earned the status of legends of the show. And Jacqueline Jossa is the name to beat with a super impressive 76 stars won for camp.
He may have been against providing free school meals for children during his time in parliament until shamed into it by football player Marcus Rashford, but Matt Hancock did at least work to feed his fellow campmates during his time in the jungle, earning an impressive 72 stars from his 10 Bushtucker Trials.
Third in his series and third in this list, Roman Kemp won an impressive 65 stars for camp. Perhaps his appearance in this month’s Celebrity Race Across the World series 3 will see him finish third as well?
Jossa and Kemp both competed in series 19 of the show, and stars of that season prominently feature in the top 10. Ian Wright, Andy Whyment, Caitlyn Jenner, and Andrew Maxwell all make the list as series 19 campmates seemingly dined out on kangaroo and crocodile, rather than the usual daily ration of rice and beans.
It probably comes as no surprise that Adam Thomas makes the list, winning 53 stars from his record-breaking 12 trials, while Shane Richie features too, with 57 stars from his 9 trials. Naughty Boy from series 21 also makes the top 10, proving himself to be a good boy by winning 52 stars for camp from his eight Bushtucker Trials.
Eastenders legend Jossa has set the bar high with her 76 stars and it will be hard to beat. Will we see any of the new campmates surpass her record in the coming weeks?
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Most consecutive trials faced
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt over the past 23 years, it’s that the British public love to see celebrities suffer when they show their fears during challenges. Quitting early, screaming dramatically, and showing genuine panic is the quickest way for the celebrity to ensure they’ll be up for the public vote again, as the campmates on this list prove.
And no one has had to endure more consecutive trials than series 12 campmate Helen Flanagan, who took part in a record-breaking seven consecutive trials. Her general lack of enjoyment towards jungle life and her inability to complete tasks saw the British public vote for her over and over again. She was so bad that during the first five trials faced, she won a grand total of zero stars for camp. She did improve for her final two trials – much to the delight of her hungry campmates – winning 17 out of 24 available stars in total.
Falling just short of Flanagan’s seven trials, three celebrities have each competed in six consecutive trials. Last year’s campmate Dean McCullough squealed his way through six trials in a row, while it was an unhappy return to the series for Katie Price in series 9. At the time, she was the highest-paid contestant ever, reportedly earning £450,000 for her appearance. The public certainly made her work for her money, but six trials was enough before exiting the show saying "I'm just not doing it any more”. And it’s no surprise that Matt Hancock makes the list after receiving the public vote six times in a row.
A number of celebrities had to complete five consecutive trials. Strong performances from Joel Dommett and Rev. Richard Coles helped them win the hearts of the public, while the sheer terror and screams through each challenge contributed to Adam Thomas and Naughty Boy facing multiple Bushtucker Trials in a row.
Series 10 favourite Gillian McKeith could have been a shoo-in for this list, however, she was unable to take part in certain trials on medical grounds, flat out refused to take part in one trial, and then famously fake-fainted before another. She did manage to take part in three consecutive trials twice during her time in the jungle, however. A true legend of the show.
Can any of this year’s campmates beat Helen Flanagan and make it eight in a row? It’ll take someone incredibly fearful (or seriously hated by the public) to stand a chance.
How we did it (the methodology)
We searched for every contestant who had participated in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! – from series one in 2002 to last year's season in 2024. We looked at previous winners of the show, and how many trials each celebrity competed in based on a total combination of public voting, compulsory trials and team challenges. We also totaled up the contestants who had won the most stars, faced the most consecutive challenges, and won the least amount of stars. The data was then formatted onto a spreadsheet. All data collected is accurately based on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Series one to 24.
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