Meet Morgan Burtwistle, the 24-year-old from Salford who has transformed screaming expletives at football matches and video games into an astonishing seven-figure career. Known to millions as 'Angry Ginge' thanks to his fiery red hair and freckled complexion, this seemingly ordinary young man earns over £1 million per year from his online antics.
From Council Estate to Internet Stardom
Burtwistle's journey to fame and fortune reads like a modern-day fairytale. Raised in a single-parent household on a council estate in Eccles, Salford, he moved in with his grandparents at 17 to ease financial pressure on his mother Michelle, who struggled to support him and his sister on her £12,500 teaching assistant salary.
His first foray into streaming in 2020 attracted just 40 viewers and earned him £12.44, nearly causing him to abandon his new venture. However, after his grandfather died from Covid a year later, Burtwistle became more consistent with his content and eventually amassed 1.5 million subscribers on gaming platform Twitch.
The Twitch Phenomenon and ITV Discovery
Twitch, founded in 2011 and often described as the 'Gogglebox of the internet', has become Burtwistle's professional playground. Streamers like him generate income through subscriptions, donations and sponsorship deals, with earnings directly correlating to viewer numbers. At his peak, one of Burtwistle's broadcasts attracted 17,506 simultaneous viewers.
His unique brand of entertainment – featuring sudden outbursts punctuated by swear words and derogatory jokes – proved irresistible to a particular internet demographic. This success remained largely under the radar until June, when Burtwistle participated in the charity football match Soccer Aid, catching the attention of ITV bosses who broadcast the event.
An insider revealed: 'Everyone at Soccer Aid, including the ITV commissioner who oversees both Soccer Aid and I'm A Celebrity, absolutely loved him. When he wasn't performing for the cameras during the game, he was warm and unique.'
Jungle Heartthrob and Modern Love Story
Burtwistle's inclusion in I'm A Celebrity has proven remarkably successful, with the show becoming the third most watched programme this year after Netflix's Adolescence and The Traitors. Approximately 11 million people watched the first two episodes.
The streamer has unexpectedly become the show's heartthrob, with social media flooded by young women declaring their affection. One viral post stating 'I'm out on a run and can't stop thinking about how much I'm in love with Angry Ginge' received over half a million likes.
This infatuation reached such levels that fans began using AI to generate pictures of themselves with Burtwistle, prompting his spokesman to clarify: 'Ginge is single, but you wouldn't know from the amount of AI girlfriends popping up online.'
Burtwistle further fuelled romantic speculation when he revealed his sentimental side to campmate Ruby Wax, describing how he decorated his room with rose petals and a teddy bear to officially ask his ex-girlfriend to be his partner. He disclosed she ended their relationship last year by text while he was streaming, forcing him to 'carry on for another six hours' despite his heartbreak.
The Daily Mail has identified 21-year-old Olivia Stelfox as the most likely former girlfriend, while fellow content creator Jolie Sharpe, 23, has also been linked to Burtwistle despite both repeatedly denying romance rumours. Sharpe appears in the family photo Burtwistle brought into the jungle, showing what he described as the 'best day of my life' at Soccer Aid.
ITV executives see Burtwistle as not just a potential jungle winner but as a future prime time presenter who could help secure the broadcaster's relevance with younger audiences. As one source confirmed: 'Morgan is considered by ITV as not only the future, but a saviour.'
