King of the jungle Danny Jones: I’m A Celebrity was ‘most rewarding experience’

McFly star Danny Jones has said I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! was the “most overwhelming, amazing, rewarding experience” he feels he will ever have in his life.

The singer and guitarist, 38, was crowned the king of the jungle on Sunday after receiving 55.21% of the public vote, while TV personality Coleen Rooney came in second with 44.79%, according to rounded figures shared by the show.

During his time in the jungle, the musician completed trials with creepy crawlies and opened up about personal issues including how his father does not speak to him.

Appearing via video call on ITV’s Lorraine on Monday, he said: “Jungle time is crazy. It goes so slow but friendships seem to blossom really quickly.

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“And you do have time to talk and there’s no distractions like phones and other things. So all we had was a campfire, a lovely stream, some jungle to chill in and the trials to do so you get to know everybody really well.

“But I think what made it for me was the campmates, the campmates were incredible. They had questions and they listened and we chatted, and we got to know each other so well.

“It was the most overwhelming, amazing, rewarding experience I think I’ll ever have in my life.”

It marks Jones’s third win this year after he came first on the latest series of The Masked Singer and his artist on ITV’s The Voice, Ava, whom he coached alongside his McFly bandmate Tom Fletcher, won the show in October.

Jones described it as a “crazy year”, admitting that he had planned to take six months off to move house ahead of his tour next year, but that he could not turn down I’m A Celebrity… when the opportunity presented itself.

Jones said he did not expect to show his vulnerable side on the show and that he leaned on former Irish boxing champion Barry McGuigan for advice, describing him as his “jungle dad”.

“I just thought I’d go on there and have a bit of a laugh, which I did. I did chase the fun, I had a great time,” he said.

“But I showed a side that only my nearest and dearest see, really. So I’ve been myself and shown everything, and I feel really thankful that everybody was bothered to vote for me.

“Honestly, I feel on top of the world being king of the jungle.”

The singer also revealed he feels “overwhelmed” by the support from the public and is “forever thankful” they voted for him being himself rather than as part of the band, as he is usually known.

During the final, Jones, Rooney and the Rev Richard Coles, who finished in third place, faced critters including spiders, snakes and cockroaches as they embarked on the last Bushtucker trial, The Towers Of Terror, where they had to collect stars and manoeuvre then across various levels and through untying knots.

The trio were able to retrieve all of the stars, meaning they won a reward of a three-course meal and drink.

Speaking via video call to Good Morning Britain, Rooney, 38, said she felt ready to take on the show this time as her children were more grown up and she wanted a “challenge”.

She described it as an experience she will “never forget” but admitted it was “really hard” at times.

“You what was my fear going in? It wasn’t the trials, it wasn’t the sleeping outside or the critters – it was karaoke and cooking,” she revealed.

“And I didn’t have to cook because we had some cooks in there. And the karaoke night, I enjoyed everyone else and I had a singalong, but I stuck to me guns, I don’t do karaoke, so why would I go on a show and think I had to do it?”

Rooney, the wife of former England footballer Wayne Rooney, also explained she went in to the jungle for herself and with “no plan”.

“What you see is what you get and I think even my campmates were surprised,” she said.

“I think they thought: ‘Oh she she lives in a nice house. She’s used to luxury.’ I don’t mind getting stuck in, I’m a mum of four boys, we go on trail walks, we go into ponds, we go into lakes, we get dirty. I clean up after them.

“I’m strong and I don’t mind mucking in and getting busy with things. And the one thing that everyone said to me, and I knew I was going to stick to throughout the jungle, was to stay true to myself.”

TV star and author Coles, who was part of pop duo The Communards, hailed I’m A Celebrity as a “magical experience” following his departure, after securing third place.

“I’ve got 12 really good mates that I didn’t have before. I’ve learned stuff about myself, and I think most of all, it’s a renewed willingness to say yes to life’s challenges and adventures”, the 62-year-old told This Morning on Monday on a video call.

“Sometimes it’s hard to do that when you’re in your 60s as I am, but that’s no reason not to say yes. I’ve so glad I said yes, and I’ve been rewarded for it so hugely.”