It’s official, Danny Jones is the King of the I’m A Celeb jungle for 2024… but he won’t be taking a cash prize home with him.
In case you haven’t been watching, the finale of ITV‘s smash-hit reality show, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Here! aired last night, and it was Bolton‘s very own McFly band member, Danny Jones, who won the hearts of the nation and took home the coveted crown, but despite his flashy new title, a cash prize doesn’t come along with it.
Danny entered the final of I’m A Celeb last night alongside fellow campmates Coleen Rooney, who came in second, and Reverend Richard Coles who took third place.
The singer-songwriter seemed to have emerged as a fan favourite early on in the series, and was publicly praised by viewers on social media throughout, especially for tackling his trials and responsibilities, and after opening up about his ongoing battle with anxiety.
But after an emotional reunion with his wife Georgia and little boy Cooper during last Friday’s episode (6 December), he cemented himself as a frontrunner to win.
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After being announced as the King of the Jungle last night, Danny said: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I gave my all in there, it’s a lovely feeling to be liked. Thank you so much, I appreciate this so much.”
Despite everything he put in to clinch the crown, and despite what many viewers seem to think, unlike other similar reality shows such as Love Island and Big Brother, the only winnings Danny will be walking away were agreed prior to him appearing on the show.
I’m A Celeb contestants each agree a fee with their agent for competing on the show before they enter into the jungle, and then, as long as they stay in for a total 72 hours, the money is theirs, even if they withdraw after that time frame.
According to ITV, the 72-hour mark is set to ensure the celebs don’t just bail as soon as they get in there and run off with the money.
While the fees each contestant agreed on this year haven’t been formally confirmed, it’s widely been reported in a number of sources that Danny Jones is being paid a sum of around £100,000 to £150,000 for his time Down Under.
Featured Image – ITV
TV & Showbiz
Dame Sarah Storey is going on Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Danny Jones
Record-breaking local athlete and Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, is set to become the latest to join the Strictly Come Dancing annals.
With the Strictly cast for 2026 steadily being unveiled, we always keep an eye out for the Greater Manchester names in particular.
That being said, we’re buzzing to see the hugely successful Stockport swimmer turned cyclist will be swapping her Team GB kit for sparkly, sequined ballroom gowns and an entirely different type of sport and fitness.
Announced on Friday, 17 July, Storey is the seventh celebrity to be confirmed for the 24th series of the hit BBC show and dancing competition.
Having represented her country not only at nine Paralympics but across two different disciplines after switching to the racing bike back in 2005, she’s our most decorated competitor in the entire history of the Games with 30 medals to her name – 19 of which are gold.
Absolute GOAT levels.
But now the Cheadle Hulme-born is once again set to show her versatility to see how she fares on the dance floor later this year.
Commenting ahead of the new-look season which starts this September, the 48-year-old said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.
“I have always loved watching Strictly, and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!”
This latest sea-change comes not long after the local legend and sporting icon officially announced her retirement from professional sport more than three decades on from first bursting onto the scene.
Thank you for taking the time to leave all the incredible messages. It’s so wonderful to read them and thank you for being the greatest supporters 🥰
— Dame Sarah Storey (@DameSarahStorey) July 9, 2026
What a career she’s had; it obviously didn’t take her long to get tired of sitting still for once, either.
She will be joined by the likes of Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer and Will Best.
In case you missed it, the upcoming edition of Strictly Come Dancing will be the first since Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and pro dancer Johannes Radebe stepping in as replacements.
In other starring Stockport news, we’ve finally got more info on the final season of a popular programme filmed in the area. Find out more down below.
Micah Richards reveals dad ‘unexpectedly’ died shortly before going on air for England v Argentina last night
Emily Sergeant
Micah Richards has revealed that his dad died shortly before he went on air for the World Cup semi final last night.
The former right back – who most-notably played for Manchester City for a decade from 2005-2015, and for the England national team from 2006-2012 – was one of the BBC’s pundits providing on-air analysis last night as England faced Argentina in a highly anticipated semi final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup last night.
The two teams faced off in Atlanta, and while goals came from both sides, it was ultimately Argentina that reigned supreme – securing a 2-1 win over the Three Lions.
But while much of the country is grieving the fact that football won’t be ‘coming home’ (well, for another two years at least), Richards is grieving on a deeper level.
He took to Instagram after the loss last night to share with his 1.4m followers that shortly before he went on air, his father Lincoln passed away ‘unexpectedly’ – calling him the ‘proudest parent possible’ in a touching tribute.
“He has left us all too soon,” Richards began in his tribute.
“Hwas my greatest fan. He barely missed a game my entire life. He would take me wherever I needed to go when I was a kid and he was the proudest parent possible during my professional career. It was so rare for him to not be by my side.
“I know how much watching England World Cup games means to everyone at home, and how the experience bonds families together across the generations, like nothing else.
“I know, particularly as a proud old-school Yorkshireman, dad would’ve wanted the show to go on this evening. And so it did.”
Emily Sergeant -
9th December 2024 
