Zara McDermott has shared her sweet reaction to her boyfriend Sam Thompson winning I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2023.
The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, was crowned King Of The Jungle on Sunday night, with boxing legend Tony Bellew in second place and Nigel Farage in third.
He had been the bookies’ favourite to win for weeks after proving popular with ITV viewers, but there was still all to play for in a final episode that included a final grim trial and the campmates’ last meal.
Zara – who has not flown out to herself – joined all of Sam’s friends and family in staging a viewing party for the final.
She wore a party hat with Sam’s face on, excitedly telling her 1.9 million Instagram that ‘we have Sam themed everything!’
Zara McDermott has shared her sweet reaction to her boyfriend Sam Thompson winning I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! 2023
Former Made In Chelsea star Sam, 31, was crowned King Of The Jungle on Sunday night
The reality star shared the exact moment she heard Ant and Dec announce Sam as the winner as she immediately began jumping up and down while squealing with joy.
Zara rushed to share a hug with Sam’s mother Karen, while Sam’s sister Louise and her son Leo also appeared over the moon.
Similarly, Sam jumped into the arms of runner-up Tony when hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly announced the results, before admitting he was ‘overwhelmed’.
He said: ‘I’m really overwhelmed, I didn’t think I’d even be invited on the show. I don’t know what to say.’
Asked what he had to say to those who had voted for him, he tearfully said: ‘I’m so grateful, thank you so much. I’ve dreamed of doing this show for years and years and you’ve made a boy’s dream come true.’
Tony wasn’t too disappointed to have finished second as he felt his new friend was a more than worthy winner.
He said: ’10 days ago, I knew. I knew when I first met him, I’ve never met a person like him… He deserves it more than anything and I couldn’t be happier.’
Sam had been open about being a superfan of the show and admitted it was ‘100 times’ better than he had expected it to be.
Zara – who has not flown out to herself – joined all of Sam’s friends and family in staging a viewing party for the final
Sam has been crowned King Of The Jungle as he beat Tony Bellew who finished in second place
Sam jumped into the arms of runner-up Tony when hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly announced the results, before admitting he was ‘overwhelmed’
Interviewed alongside Tony ahead of the result, he was asked if it had lived up to his expectations and said: ‘It did so much more, I’ve never been so shocked in my life, times 100 everything, the little moments are the best moments as well.
‘My favourite time in the entire jungle was when Snake Rock came back and we had the entire family back together… The vibe was so amazing and I thought, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I am now.’ ‘
Meanwhile, boxer Tony admitted he had found life in camp ‘very, very difficult’ so was thankful for his friendships with Sam and JLS singer Marvin Humes.
Following his win, Sam was reunited with his best friend and TOWIE star Pete Wicks, who had flown out to to support him.
Pete was their for Sam in lieu of his girlfriend Zara McDermott, who was unable to fly out to support him due to clashing work schedules.
Despite being unable to be their in person, Zara has been sharing her support online as she watched the series play out from home.
Last month, Zara revealed while Pete was going instead of her even though she was free because of her early exit from Strictly Come Dancing.
The influencer, 26, told Fleur East on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show: ‘When I left Strictly I was like “Shall I pack my case?” and he went “Oh no it’s already been arranged Pete is coming”.’
Following his win, Sam was reunited with his best pal Pete Wicks, who had flown out to to support him
Sam and Tony had struck up a close bond while living in the jungle together
Sam pictured with his girlfriend Zara, who was unable to fly out to
She continued: ‘When I suggested maybe Pete and I could both go, he said, “No, just Pete!” Maybe I can get Pete to take a cardboard cut-out of me … But you know what it’s fine, absolutely fine.
‘I’ve got all the time in the world to live with him and see him. If he wants Pete at the end of that bridge I respect and appreciate that – also I can’t wait to see that hug!’
Zara was the first former Love Island star to compete on Strictly Come Dancing, and she was eliminated in week six.
Her early elimination meant she was effectively at a loose end. At the same time, Sam, who had gambled on her still being in the competition, jetted off to for his own reality TV adventure.
Speaking to breakfast hosts Fleur East and James Barr, he said: ‘When they asked [me to go into the jungle] I did think, if Zara was still on Strictly would I be a bad boyfriend if I went – but then decided I had to!’
This decision made him question whether he would even have a girlfriend by the end of the three-week competition.
He said: ‘As it turns out she’s tapping out of Strictly just as I’m tapping in.
‘But because I thought she would still be doing Strictly, Pete’s [Wicks] coming with me!’ he admitted.
Zara said she was ‘so proud’ of Sam and his ‘personal growth’
‘I don’t know if I’m going to have a girlfriend at the end of it…’
Earlier this week, Zara said she was feeling ‘so proud’ of Sam for his ‘personal growth’ on the show.
The former Love Island star, 26, said ‘there are so many beautiful things that come along with ADHD’ (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as she opened up on his time in the jungle.
Speaking on This Morning with hosts Rylan Clark and Emma Willis alongside Dr Nighat on Thursday, Zara reflected on the Made In Chelsea star’s time in camp.
She said: ‘I’m just excited every single day to sit down and watch I’m A Celeb in the evenings. It’s just the absolute highlight of my day.
‘I think he has grown a lot since celebrity Big Brother you know, he is now 31 and he has come just such a long way in his personal growth and I think seeing him open up about his ADHD has made just everyone so proud.
‘I think it’s such a difficult thing to talk openly about because there are so many personal struggles alongside ADHD and a lot of self-confusion but there are so many beautiful things that comes alongside ADHD and I think we’ve seen that in the jungle.
‘There is a lot of stigma around any kind of neurodivergents, it’s really tough to speak about because in some ways it’s this feeling of abnormalities like “why am I not like other people”, but really it’s such a beautiful thing as well.’
The former Love Island star said ‘there are so many beautiful things that come along with ADHD’ as she opened up on his time in the jungle