Sam Thompson has described working alongside I'm A Celebrity hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly as one of the "coolest things in the world". The reality star, who won the show in 2023, is returning to the jungle this year to front the spin-off programme, Unpacked.
Return to the Jungle
Thompson, 34, will co-host Unpacked alongside Kemi Rodgers, a former Mirror journalist who now presents on Capital FM. This follows the announcement over the summer that fellow host Joel Dommett had left the show.
The pair will cover every aspect of camp life, including any drama, with a panel of famous guests. Ant and Dec will also make an appearance on the programme.
Praise for Ant and Dec
Thompson said he was stunned to be asked to present the show. "They're so lovely," he said of Ant and Dec. Speaking during a press roundtable, he added: "I've seen them more than they probably ever want to see me in their lives. I'm like that boy who used to sit on the living room floor with his parents and watch the jungle."
He went on to say: "They are literally the reason I wanted to do the jungle in the first place. To be able to work right next to them, it's just one of the coolest things in the world. They are so gracious. They are so genuine. They just want you to do well. They're your biggest cheerleaders."
The reality star, who also hosts the Pride of Britain red carpet, said the Geordie duo bring "a little bit of magic dust" to the spin-off show, which airs straight after the main programme ends. "They live and breathe that show, and that's what makes the show so brilliant. They care; they're so invested in how it goes. Like, Ant wants that trial to be at least attempted to the best of your ability."
He added: "You can still smell the camp on them and sat down getting interrogated, you're going to get genuine, honest answers from the both of them. They're not even there for that long, and so it's like that little bit of magic dust you get."
Starstruck Co-host
Rodgers, despite working at Capital FM, said she is still "so starstruck" working alongside Ant and Dec, who she grew up watching on TV. She said: "It's so interesting to get their immediate feedback and their immediate response about something they've done because obviously they present the show. They're brilliant. They are national treasures; we love them."
This year's lineup includes Wayne Rooney, online content creator Sharky, broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, Joanna Page, model Leomie Anderson, Jack Skipper, Love Island's Chloe Burrows, Paralympian Ade Adepitan, AJ Odudu, Leigh Francis and Claire Sweeney.
Former Manchester United legend Rooney has made history, with his fee reportedly being the highest of all time, outweighing the rumoured £1.5 million his wife, Coleen, was paid two years ago.
I'm A Celebrity returns to screens at 9pm on Monday, November 16, on ITV1 and ITVX. I'm A Celebrity... Unpacked will air straight after on ITV2.
