'I watched this year's I'm A Celeb stars arrive, this year's winner is already clear to me'

The Mirror's Mark Jefferies is currently Down Under watching this year's I'm A Celebrity antics unfold

By: irishmirror.ie

Nov 17 2024
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'I watched this year's I'm A C

McFly's Danny Jones is the bookmakers favourite to win I'm A Celebrity 2024 and with good reason.

Whilst I try to stay neutral when I cover the ITV show every year, I can't help myself hoping there are some female finalists in there having watched them all come through the arrivals hall at Brisbane airport and then speak to them a second time whilst they've been locked in hotels.

Perhaps more specifically, I like the idea of someone being crowned queen against the odds.

I first met Tulisa Contostavlos well over a decade ago when she was on The X Factor and I fondly remember going on a 2011 trip to South Shields with her and a hopeful band from the show called Little Mix who turned out pretty well with Tulisa's help.

But whilst the band enjoyed huge success and fame, Tulisa's life went in another direction.

A leaked sex tape was bad enough but then she hit the headlines for outrageous claims she dealt drugs. A front page claim which collapsed in court. But the damage was already done publically and mentally, I think, from speaking to her this week. In 2024 people are kinder and things would have played out differently. But it feels like Tulisa has had a long road back to where she is now. What an incredible TV comeback this could be if she smashed some trials and then walked away a winner again.

I'm A Celeb cast — This year's I'm A Celeb will kick off on ITV on Sunday (Image: ITV)

And then there is Coleen Rooney....or Wagatha Christie as many people know her now.

After winning 'that trial' brought by Rebekah Vardy she is hardly starting from the same position as Tulisa. But she has basically had her whole life from the age of 16 played out in the spotlight, including her husband Wayne's mistakes in the past involving other women.

They have four children who you can tell she dotes on endlessly and this jungle jaunt seems a very rare case of her doing something for herself.

I've no idea how she will do in the trials but the impression I have formed this week speaking to her and people around her is Coleen is pretty good at rolling up her sleeves and getting on with things.

I am fascinated to see how she copes, what she reveals and also what happens next when she comes out. ITV will surely be desperate to give her more screen time and if Wayne has any sense he will be racking up a big phone bill to make sure his wife gets to the final stages. It's the least he could do to say thanks to an understanding wife and brilliant mother.

For GK Barry a win would be life changing and would mean a victory for dry humour and a series with lots of laughs.

And we also have Oti Mabuse who is spending a month away from her one-year-old daughter to be in camp. At first I struggled to comprehend this but Oti says she needs an adventure and has also spoken on podcasts previously about how great her husband Marius is with their child, and how it is very much a 50-50 parent partnership. I admire her attitude and ability to get on with things and it will surely stand her in good stead in camp.

But if she is there when the letters from home come in, there won't be a dry eye in camp I suspect.

So it may well end up being Danny the king, he won Masked Singer, his bandmate has won the show before and he seems a lovely guy. But this year there are plenty of candidates and stories that could be created for a number of queens too. I just can't wait for it to get started!

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