I’m A Celeb 2024 winner Danny Jones has opened up about the toll jungle life took on the campmates, admitting that everyone was "really struggling deep down."
The McFly singer, 38, was crowned King of the Jungle last week, beating WAG Coleen Rooney, also 38, in a tense live final.
The guitarist reflected on the challenges they faced, including relentless thunderstorms, and revealed that his return to luxury at the cast’s five-star hotel took an unexpected toll.
During an appearance on Friday’s Magic Radio Breakfast, he told bandmate Harry Judd, who guest hosted the show with Harriet Scott: “The first three or four days I was freaking out and then that rainstorm came and it was a real deep depression.
'It was like ‘this is hard’ and we really relied on each other to get through it. Oti [Mabuse] was amazing, she was so happy and positive and I was trying to being that energy as well even though deep down we were all really struggling”.
However, that wasn’t the worst of it. Jones revealed that weeks of surviving on jungle rations left his body in shock, causing him to fall "unbelievably ill" with diarrhea after indulging in a lavish breakfast at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa, where the celebrities stay after leaving the jungle.
He explained that the abrupt change in diet sent his body into shock, highlighting the stark contrast between life in camp and the comforts of the outside world.
The Star Girl hitmaker shared: “I came back to the hotel and had two breakfasts - I had a banana bread sandwich with fruit, maple syrup and cream. I doubled that up with a baked croissant, egg, halloumi and avocado sandwich with a cup of tea.
“From there I went into a vanilla milkshake, then I did another crispy chicken burger and chips. In the evening I had chicken and mushroom pasta and then for two days I had to take Imodium. I was so ill it was unbelievable”.
Speaking of rations, Jones also admitted that the hunger was “real” as he ended up chewing on his campmates scraps.
“It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done,” he said of the series. “The boredom is real, the hunger is real - we’re on 500 calories a day with no stars. If you get one or two stars you’re getting a wallaby leg or an eel with a few bits of veg, so the calories don’t go up much.
'I remember [bandmate and former King of the Jungle Dougie Poynter] saying to me, ‘you’re going to be picking up other people’s rations and eating from their chewed bones’ and I did that!.”
His comments comes after it was revealed that the new King of the Jungle wouldn’t receive a cash prize for his victory.
Unlike other reality TV competitions, I'm A Celeb does not offer a financial reward for winning. Contestants receive a flat fee for their participation, provided they stay in the jungle for at least 72 hours as previously reported by Metro.co.uk.
Jones reportedly earned between £100,000 and £150,000 for his time in the jungle, while Rooney is said to have made history with a record-breaking £1.5 million payday.
So, while Jones leaves the jungle with a title and memories, his reward will only be the pre-arranged fee, just like the rest of his fellow campmates.
The McFly frontman will also have to return his floral crown and wooden sceptre, which he was awarded during the finale, before heading back to the UK.
Last year’s winner, Sam Thompson, revealed he too had to hand back the items, joking that he had "nothing to show" for his victory.
