Almost 11 million viewers tuned in live to see Harry Redknapp crowned King of the Jungle on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, according to overnight ratings. The ex-Tottenham and West Ham manager beat fellow finalists Emily Atack and John Barrowman on the ITV reality show.
The programme has been a hit this year, with an average of 10.8 million watching Sunday's final live – the highest ratings for the show's final in five years. Another 170,000 watched on ITV+1. Last year, an average of 9.2 million watched live to see Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo crowned.
Redknapp, 71, became the show's oldest ever winner and said it was 'so surreal' to emerge victorious. 'My grandkids will be jumping around the living room now. They'll be so excited,' he said after being crowned. He admitted he had struggled with the meagre rations and unusual foods, and that he thought contestants would get well-fed with a 'nice bit of grub' every night.
TV critic Emma Bullimore told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'Harry was the favourite all the way through. With all of his little idiosyncrasies and little catchphrases, he was absolutely brilliant entertainment value and a very worthy winner. There was no game plan, there was no pretence, he was just himself.'
Atack came second and said she was 'honoured' to be in the final two with Redknapp. She said she had met 'so many amazing souls' on the show and discovered a new-found love and respect for herself. Barrowman came third and said I'm a Celebrity had been one of the best experiences of his life.
