Angry Ginge’s inclusion in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! drew derision from certain fans online after it was announced the social media star would appear on the show, only for him to eventually prove the doubters wrong by winning.
Ginge, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, was crowned the 2025 King of the Jungle last night, winning out over Tom Read Wilson and Shona McGarty. Despite receiving stick online for being a social media celebrity rather than coming from more traditional media, Ginge’s personality and inspiring story stole the hearts of I’m A Celeb viewers, leading to his win.
After all that though, Ginge will be forced to return his prize after winning the ITV show.
As is quite well known now, the winner of I’m A Celeb does not receive any prize money by becoming King or Queen of the Jungle.
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Whether leaving the jungle on the third day or walking across the bridge victorious, winners of the show receive the same amount of money; the pre-agreed payment they need to stay in the jungle 72 hours to receive.
The social media star was, however, given a sceptre and crown to anoint him as King of the Jungle, as is customary on the ITV show. Unless ITV’s producers have a major change of heart, though, Ginge should not be expecting to head home with his sceptre and crown in hand.
Sam Thompson, the 2023 winner, explained previously that he was forced to return his winnings shortly after being crowned King of the Jungle.
He said on This Morning: “I didn’t get to keep anything! They wouldn’t let me keep anything!
“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."
Danny Jones, last year’s winner, broke his sceptre in the post-show party but was similarly unable to return to the UK with his hard-won prizes, though he appeared on this year’s edition to hand it over ceremoniously to Angry Ginge.
His win was an emotional one, with Ginge bursting into tears after it was announced that he had beat out Read Wilson to win the series.
Speaking after the win he joked that he didn’t have any final words, adding however that whilst he ‘didn’t think he can swear, he feels amazing’.
The Mancunian said: “Honestly, a dream come true. I didn’t think I could go all this way never mind win. Thank you to everyone who voted.”
He also told Ant and Dec: “I’d reached out to people before I went in to get some advice, but nobody warned me about what I was about to go through.
"No one said it was going to be that hard. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and was a real mental test.
“There were so many times I wanted to throw the towel in.”
Topics: ITV, Im A Celebrity, TV, TV and Film, Entertainment
Michael Slavin