I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, Friday 8.30pm, ITV1

Posted by Michael Baggs

They spent 22 days in the Australian jungle being forced to eat bugs, sleep in squalor and wake up next to Timmy Mallett. Somehow Joe Swash, George Takei and Martina Navratilova endured these hardships and entered the final of this year’s I’m A Celebrity in remarkably good humour. Perhaps it was the promise of a hot shower and a meal that wasn’t still wriggling that was keeping the finalist’s spirits up as their jungle adventure came to end.

The unlikely trio of a former Eastender, a Wimbledon champ and a genuine sci-fi hero spent their last day congratulating each other as they all set about trilling how wonderful it was to simply make the final. The spark of competition was notable by its absence - surely the celebs couldn’t really be so good natured?

A successful final trial can secure victory for even the most anonymous contestant - Matt Willis and a kangaroo anus springs to mind - and each finalist was given a last chance to prove themself.

Cheeky everyman Joe Swash took to a claustrophobic underground task with his typical happy-chappy attitude. “They’re gonna go up my bum” he yelled as he was sealed in a coffin full of eels and rats, before asking himself “Why can’t I just get a normal job?” If he did that, there would be a lot of unemployed vermin in Australia. Joe lasted ten minutes and scored the finalists five stars and the first part of a luxury meal.

Loveable yank George Takei was faced with the now famous I’m A Celebrity... Bush Tucker trial and set to chewing on cockroaches, locusts and a kangaroo’s penis with steely American determination. It made for grim viewing as yellow goo and something indistinguishably brown and chewy splattered from George’s mouth. He passed on a camel’s testicle but took another four stars back to camp.

The third and final trial belonged to Martina, who got away relatively lightly by sticking her head in an oversized goldfish bowl which was then filled with some particularly nasty looking insects and snakes. She didn’t flinch once, even with bugs scurrying around in her hair, running up her nose and the snakes making their escape down her body. She was even kind enough to return a rogue stick insect to the wild once the ordeal was over.

This trial was enough to see Martina through to the final two as George Takei was beamed out of the jungle in third place. He must have been wondering if the kangaroo penis had been worth it. It was sad that anyone had to come third; these were potentially the three of the most endearing finalists in the history of reality television.

But it was Joe Swash who the audience ultimately decided to be the most endearing of all, and his triumph over Martina had been widely predicted since he first entered the jungle. His upbeat personality proved more popular than that of a sci-fi legend and a world class athlete and he was eventually crowned King of the Jungle.

Joe also gains his deserved pass into that elite group of winners which include Kerry Katona, Christopher Biggins and all those other memorable kings and queens from over the years. If he’s lucky he’ll be presenting an ITV3 I’m A Celeb... behind the scenes show in a year’s time. If he’s not, he’ll be selling prawn rings with Kerry before he knows it.

Perhaps it’ll be enough to make him have another think about getting that ‘normal’ job again…

SEE ALSO:
The Ultimate Bushtucker Trials
I'm A Celebrity 2008 Best Bits
More I'm a Celebrity...

Comments

[Roman Blinds]

Maybe Roman Blinds would have won it!

[Blinds]

Deserved to win with those Venetian Blind making skills!!

[Rebecca Monk]

yay, joe (Y)

[Batton]

Thrilled Joe won. His resilience, selflessness, earthy attitude and strong sense of right and wrong was immensely impressive. Fantastic Final 3. For once decency, fairness, and good old fashioned humour won the day. Here's a nice read;
w w w .ryeandbattleobserver. co . uk /nick-perry/Bush-Tucker-trials-for-Incapacity.4777484.jp

(remove spaces)

[Batton]

Thrilled Joe won. His resilience, selflessness, earthy attitude and strong sense of right and wrong was immensely impressive. Fantastic Final 3. For once decency, fairness, and good old fashioned humour won the day. Here's a nice read;
w w w .ryeandbattleobserver. co . uk /nick-perry/Bush-Tucker-trials-for-Incapacity.4777484.jp

(remove spaces)

[megan]

joe swash was going to win it all the way cos he is great

[Tatum]

what a shame all the previous comments have gone!! did they get deleted?? :Z

[Jermaine]

I just think he's a legend.

[amber]

i love joe swash. i wanted him to win right from the very beginning. i was gutted when simon went out, but that was only because i would miss his body. :L
congratulations to joe, we were all 100% behind you :) xx

[Holly, 24]

I've never voted on a reality show but I just had to vote for Joe. He's the best King by a country mile. He made this series for me. It was the best one. Love George too, what a beautiful man. Joe's son is adorable!!! Gorgeous, like his father. I hope his ex-fiance will be a bit more understanding this time by not keeping their son to herself. Joe clearly loves him to bits. His family are so lovely too. I hope him and Kara work things out, they make SUCH a truly lovely couple. James needs to let her go. Get over it mate :/

[livyyzbbaybe x]

JOE IS THE BEST

[IAC]

Joe was a truly deserving winner. I too thought he was going to squeeze his mums head off as he hugged her in tears on the end of the bridge. His personality is gorgeous & it shows in his eyes & infectious smile. LOVED his friendship with the fantastic George. Theres something hilariously adorable about a straight, testorestone-filled lad falling in love with a gay 71 yr old man. His love for Esther Rantzen was just as lovely. A genuine, funny, charismatic, happy, cheeky, down to earth, selfless, energetic, straight-forward, fun, charming, renaissance gent. & so human. We saw every side to him. I was beyond impressed with him for standing up for those being clearly targeted, regardless of what the group would think of him. His consistent passion & principle was admirable. For goodness sake, it took a 26 yr old guy to speak up & put his friendships on the line whilst everyone followed that VILE bully Nic & Co. like sheep. We had a spineless, two-faced ex-policeman in there. Instead of helping, Paddock stirred everything up whilst making a complete fool of himself. Absolute disgrace to this country. I was impressed as Joe completed each trial with enthusiasm, speed & comedic good humour. He was hands-on/resilient/creative. Bless him for making George his walking stick & Venetian blinds as he was being drenched in torrential rain. Wish I had his zest for life. As his campmates said, Joes heart is so big & full of life. This series has been the most entertaining and endearing one thus far, same goes for the winner. A likable & socially confident young man.

[Alexa]

:) :) :) :) !!!

Well done to George and Martina too. They were my ideal Top 2 and Joe was my ideal winner.

[bev&kir]

we love Joe he is such a lovely bloke. his frindship with George was wonderful. in our view this years show was the best ever. glad in the end the best man won.

[Jack]

Great Top 3 and winner.

[BBKing]

I'm re-watching Joe's interviews on the I'm A Celeb website. He's such a f'n nice guy. I'm cracking up silly watching the ITV2 one and his exit one is just sweet as hell. Lovely boy. It's true what they say about your soul surfacing through, beauty being skin-deep and whatnot. His personality is gorgeous and you can so see it in his eyes and smile.

A few video snippets:

Kilroy: "I love Joe. He's very charismatic, he's fun, I liked him from the very beginning, he's down to earth, he's straight forward...."

Timmy: "He's enthusiastic with a zest for life, I adore him!"

Esther: "I bonded most closely with Joe. He made me feel I was still a woman...but he never made me feel ridiculous."

Nicola: "He's funny and I do think he's brilliant :)"

Simon: "You never quite know what he's gonna say next but because his heart is so full of life, you JUST embrace him."

[Keith, 28]

Nice one! :]

Dealing with the trials, people and situations aside, it must feel amazing winning a contest for merely being yourself. Everyone I talked to wanted Swash to win.

I'd buy Joe and George a pint on the house any day.

[Sue]

Really glad he won it, he was genuine from the start and deserved to win it, unlike some in there who just seemed to be putting on an act for the cameras. Nice one!

[lucy]

i am rlly happy that Joe won!!!!!! he deserved it way more than Marrtina!!! he was nice from the start and got on with everyone!!! not easy when you are in a camp full of people talking about each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WELL DONE JOE!! YOU DESERVE IT

[May]

The perfect result :)
A really decent happy-go-lucky guy. I just hope they don't turn him into an annoying Biggins or Katona replacement. His exit interview was too cute but I wish they'd showed some of his hilarious moments and one-liners and his very, very sweet relationship with Esther. Congrats to gorgeous George and Martina, x

[Ooops]

LOL. I apologise for the double post! :L

[RollingStone]

Fantastic Finale. He was genuinely moved, shocked and in tears and his smile was so, so sweet. Tuned in every night for him although I love George to bits too. The look of pride and genuine affection on his campmates faces was really nice to see. No other IAC contestant has made me laugh as often and as heartily as Joe has and I just found his personality, strong-will and life-bursting heart so refreshing. I'd love to see him on my screen again soon but not in an annoying Iceland advert - although I'm sure they will make him do that. Congrats to Martina and George, what lovely people. As was Esther and almost all of the others. Great series this year. He was genuinely moved, shocked and in tears and his smile was so, so sweet. Tuned in every night for him although I love George to bits too. The look of pride and genuine affection on his campmates faces was really nice to see. No other IAC contestant has made me laugh as often and as heartily as Joe has and I just found his personality, strong-will and life-bursting heart so refreshing. I'd love to see him on my screen again soon but not in an annoying Iceland advert - although I'm sure they will make him do that. Congrats to Martina and George, what lovely people. As was Esther and almost all of the others. Great series this year. I'll miss it.

[Chris]

Perfect winner. What a top guy.

[billybobs]

well done joey. I knew you was gonna win. i liked georgie boi too but joes ma man hero. x

[LInda]

Well done Joe you were my star from the start.Congrats to Martina & George great final

[Steph]

I wanted him to win from the start and when he finally did win i jumped in the air :D I loved how she stuck up for people no matter if he loved them or hated them and i loved his sense of humour. Well Done Joe x

[catherine lister]

Absolutely brilliant Joe !! Great 3 finalists but Joe had my heart all through...he`s such a fantasticly genuine guy. Truly a hero for our young to follow!!!!!
We need more like you Joe xx

[purby]

east end beat west end i'm happy for him

[michelle]

well i new he was going to be crowned king of the jungle. a real genuine loveable guy. a real entertainer. congrats though to george and matina for being in the final three.

[callie]

well done joe!! i knew you were going to win from the start!! you are the best!! you are sooo funny!! you are totally cute

[lorna]

What am I going to watch now? What a great series and well done Joe, you certainly made my evenings - not many genuine lads like you around, your Mum must be so proud of you !

[Anne]

Congratulations Joe, what a great I'm a celebrity get me out of here, best up to now I am really going to miss it.
Well done to Martina & George what a fantastic programme.

[Zoe]

Well Done Joe !, He truely deserved to win ! XD

[zoe]

wot a fab guy!! we want more joe!!

[Vivienne]

I love this cheeky boy.

[Nadine]

Great Top 3 and a deserving winner. Joe's exit interview was adorable. The simple cockney actually speaks a lot of sense. His smile is EVER so sweet and infectious. It was really very cute the way his campmates looked like proud mothers. You can re-watch the interview on the Official IAC site.

[Well done Joe]

Fantastic result. Hilarious and sweet exit interview and moving ITV2 interview. It was very cute when he burst into tears as he hugged and kissed his mum.

[IAC]

Well done Indiana Joe. He made this year really enjoyable for me as well as ticking all the boxes for Jungle King. First time I've voted on a reality show. I wish I had half this lad's spirit, heart, passion, energy and zest for life.

[Ruth]

Yesssssssssss!!!!!!!!!! :D :D

A fantastic end to my crappy week!

I think everyone predicted Joe winning but it could have gone either way, espeically after Martina and George's amazing trials tonight.

The best man won. He really had all the natural qualities of a Jungle boy. Well done to Mr Sulu (what a charming, intelligent sweet gentleman) and Martina (what resilience and a bod!!) too.

PS. I think it's only fitting Orange that you use one of Joe's latest photos (crown/with mum/stick etc).

[Aw]

Being a Trekkie fan, I was rooting for gorgeous George although I just couldn't help but smile as Joe was interviewed. He's such a nice, funny, genuine likeable guy with a huge heart and a lovely family. Congrats King Joe. Hope you go onto bigger and better things, not Iceland adverts!

[sweeet.]

Chuffed for him!

Joe, George, Esther, Simon and Martina can come to my house anyday.

[:)]

Awww! The right result. Joe was such a worthy winner. Everyone I know wanted him to win, from old men and women to Uni students to kids although we agree George is a wonderful man as well. And Martina is a gorgeous warrior. I could not stop smiling watching Joe's exit interview. He was so genuinely moved, chuffed and teary-eyed. He looked drained. Really likeable, energetic team player with a gorgeous uplifting soul. Well done to him.

[Box.]

A fantastic finish. Real feel-good TV with heart.

[Mark]

Well done mate!
Great Top 3 (kudos for those trials!) but Joe was a very deserving winner. A genuine, funny, down to earth, selfless, sprited fella who dealt with and handled a hell of a lot. Kept me entertained throughout. Wish him the very best. Just steer clear of the Iceland offer buddy!

[Sabienne]

Superb result. Fantastic winner & Final 3.

Orange, great recap but I wish you'd have used the image of Joe at the end of the bridge squeezing his mother and beaming with tears in his eyes lol. It was very sweet :)

[TheWho]

What a truly lovely lad and worthy winner! And what a perfect Final 3! Congratulations to the fantastic George and Martina. I hope Joe goes on to bigger and better things and does not succumb to Iceland adverts lol. His heart is so refreshingly full of life. Gorgeous personality. Well done Joe!!