I'm a Celebrity: Jill Scott wins as Matt Hancock MP finishes third

Footballer Jill Scott has won ITV reality series I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! while actor Owen Warner came second and former health secretary Matt Hancock finished third.

Scott said she "couldn't believe" she had been crowned Queen of the Jungle.

Hancock's participation in the show has been controversial and led to him having the Tory whip suspended.

Asked by hosts Ant and Dec why he took part, Hancock said: "I wanted to show what I'm like as a person.

"Lots of people come to me with pre-conceived ideas for obvious reasons, and I just wanted to be myself," he continued.

"But I also believe that for politicians as a whole, we don't come across as human enough. And this is probably the most extreme way of showing who you are."

He added: "I carry with me expectations, people think they know me, and actually they don't, they know Matt Hancock from the TV and the media.

"I just went in absolutely clear that I was going to be totally myself as if their cameras weren't on and that's what I did. And that is what I'm like in private."

Sunday's final was watched by an average of 10.1 million viewers, according to overnight viewing figures from ratings body Barb.

Figures from ITV show 47% of public votes went to Scott, 31% to Warner and 22% to Hancock. After Hancock was eliminated, Scott won with 58% to Warner's 42%.

However, Hancock's triumph in reaching the final did not impress some fellow politicians. Business Secretary Grant Shapps said Hancock's political career was "pretty much done" after appearing on the show.

He said on Times Radio: "I do think... that his true position should have been in Parliament this last few weeks, and serving his constituents.

"You know, it's often said that... politics is showbusiness for ugly people. He should be with us uglies back in the House rather than the jungle down under."

Hancock took part in 10 Bushtucker trials during his time in the jungle, five of which were the result of a public vote.

Since last week, the public have been voting to keep their favourite campmates in the jungle, rather than to evict their least favourites.

During his exit interview, Hancock admitted he was nervous about taking part in the series, adding that he had expected the tough questions he was asked by other campmates.

"Some of those grillings were really enjoyable and a release, because I could say exactly what I thought, and some were very emotional about some parts of my past that everybody knows about," he said.

"We had really grown-up conversations about it, and there were strong feelings but there wasn't any aggro, they were discussions."

He concluded: "I know it was controversial, me coming in here... but we've all got lots of sides to our personalities."

After his interview, Hancock was seen being reunited with his partner Gina Coladangelo, who he was caught kissing on CCTV in 2021 - events which ultimately led to his resignation as health secretary.

Social distancing guidelines, which Hancock had helped devise, were in place at the time they were pictured kissing. He faced a barrage of criticism when the footage was released by the Sun.

Hancock's participation in the series was criticised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said Hancock should not be away from his constituents while Parliament is sitting.

The 44-year-old was also criticised by Conservative colleagues and opposition MPs, as well as his local Conservative association who said they were "disappointed" and accused Hancock of a "serious error of judgement".

Soon after the MP's arrival in the camp on 9 November, a banner was flown over it bearing a message from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group.

But Hancock, who said he entered the jungle to raise awareness of his dyslexia campaign, survived all the public-voted evictions during his time on the show.

Hancock previously said he would donate some of his fee for taking part in the series - reported to be £400,000 - to a hospice in his constituency and dyslexia charities.

Asked how she felt to be crowned Queen of the Jungle, Scott joked: "I just can't believe it, I think I'm going to owe my grandma a lot of money for 12 million votes."

She described her fellow campmates as "absolutely incredible".

"We were one big team," she continued. "I don't think there should be one winner, we couldn't have got through it without all of us, I think we've all been winners of I'm A Celebrity."

Scott's friends from the sporting world were quick to congratulate her online.

Former England rugby player Rochelle "Rocky" Clark wrote on Twitter: "Couldn't (have) been a better choice. The people's choice."

Former England footballer Fara Williams agreed as she said it was "never in doubt", adding: "Queen of the jungle so proud of you... you absolutely smashed it."

Retired footballer Fern Whelan also shared her delight at Scott's triumph as she wrote on Twitter: "SO PROUD OF YOU!"

And actor and last year's jungle champion Danny Miller added he was delighted to pass on the throne to Scott as he posted she was a "deserved winner", adding: "A pleasure to hand over the crown to you! Enjoy it!"

Hollyoaks star Warner, who came second, said he was "so gassed" about Scott's win. "I think everyone agrees, no-one deserves it more than Jill," he said.

Earlier in Sunday's final, Scott, Hancock and Warner were seen taking part in their last Bushtucker trials, before enjoying their final meal together in camp.

Hancock's trial, Flood Your Face, saw him have his head placed in a tank of water, while wearing a snorkel to breathe, for five minutes. Various critters were added around his face, including eels, yabbies and water spiders.

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is one of ITV's biggest hits, running for three weeks every November. It has regularly attracted eight million viewers throughout this series.

ITV News presenter Charlene White, A Place In The Sun host Scarlette Douglas, Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver and singer Boy George were among this year's campmates.

Other contestants included comedians Babatunde Aléshé and Seann Walsh, radio DJ Chris Moyles, and former rugby player Mike Tindall.