Danny Jones forced to give back ITV I’m A Celebrity prize after winning show ahead of UK return
I’m A Celebrity winner Danny Jones has been forced to hand back his crown and sceptre just hours after being crowned King of the Jungle.
The McFly star triumphed over Coleen Rooney and Reverend Richard Coles in Sunday night’s finale of the ITV show.
However, appearing on This Morning, Jones revealed the disappointing reality of his victory: “I didn’t get to keep anything! They wouldn’t let me keep anything!”
“I had to give the sceptre back. I really wanted to bring it through airport security because it’s quite big,” he laughed. “But yeah, I don’t have anything to show for it.”
Unlike other reality shows, I’m A Celebrity offers no cash prize for its winner, with contestants instead receiving a pre-negotiated appearance fee.
Jones was reportedly one of the lower-paid celebrities this year, earning between £100,000 and £150,000 for his three-week stint in the jungle.
In contrast, runner-up Coleen Rooney is said to have secured a £1.5 million fee for her participation.
The only requirement for contestants to receive their payment is that they must remain in the jungle for at least 72 hours.
Despite not keeping his crown, Jones could be set for significant financial gains following his victory.
Brand and Culture Expert Nick Ede suggests the McFly star could earn up to £1.5million through “advertising deals and personal appearance fees as well as hosting jobs”.
Television opportunities are also on the horizon, with ITV thought to be keen to sign Jones for upcoming shows.
“Danny is the embodiment of everything ITV loves,” a source revealed. “He’s fun, family-friendly and incredibly popular.”
With Jones already established as a judge on The Voice, industry insiders expect him to expand his TV presence alongside presenters like Joel Dommett and Bradley Walsh.
Upon winning, Jones expressed his heartfelt gratitude to viewers, saying: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It’s a lovely feeling to be liked.
“I gave my all in there, and this means so much to me.”
The musician reflected candidly on the challenging nature of the experience.
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“This is totally insane. I’ve learned so much about myself, and that’s because the campmates were unbelievable,” he shared.
“It was way harder than it comes across on TV. You’re hungry, you’re tired, you’re lethargic.”
The victory caps off what Jones called a “crazy year”, following his success on The Masked Singer and The Voice.