I’m A Celeb South Africa Myleene Klass WINS as she’s named show Legend

Myleene Klass was crowned the first I’m A Celebrity Legend during the final episode of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa on Friday.

The musician and broadcaster, 45, beat Diversity dancer Jordan Banjo, 30, after the pair became the remaining two stars to spend the final night in camp.

Former Hear’Say singer Myleene and KISS Breakfast host Jordan made it to the final four of the series along with Fatima Whitbread, 62, and Phil Tufnell, 57, on Thursday’s episode, with Phil being voted out by the returning full cast of the show and Fatima leaving after losing the Critter Countdown trial on Friday.

With their former campmates watching on, Myleene and Jordan went head-to-head in a gruesome last trial as they predicted the number of a variety of nasties they would be able to eat before chowing down to see if they were correct.

After triumphing, Myleene – who first appeared on the show in 2006 – was named the I’m A Celebrity Legend after the King or Queen of the Jungle was ditched for this spin-off series, with the star saying: ‘I’ve been in my element. I can’t believe what the jungle gave me first time and I’ve actually had the opportunity to relive it a second time round.

‘It’s one of those things, it was so magical the first time you start thinking did I remember that as it was or have I recreated those memories? 

‘They say don’t go back to an ex and don’t go back to a reheated dinner. I thought to myself oh no, what if it’s not as good? And I’ve gone back into the bush and it’s been even bigger, more majestic, bigger trials. South Africa is vast. 

‘And it’s not been against any campmates, it’s been against the best of the best. 

‘It’s just been mind blowing. Everything was as magical, very tough – challenging both mentally and physically – and something that I’ve loved throwing myself into.’

However, Myleene said she struggled with the decision to return to the show, saying it was her children Ava, 15, Hero, 12, and Apollo, three, who gave her the motivation.

She explained: ‘It was not an easy decision. We sat down as a family and it was my children that made me say yes. 

‘The first time round I wasn’t a mum so there was no jeopardy if I ran around the jungle for a few weeks in a white bikini. I had the time of my life and took on a few challenges and then I came out and everyone knew me for having a shower! There are worse things to be known for having! I had a ball the first time. 

‘This time round, I’m a mum and that changes everything. You don’t want to let your children down, you don’t want to say something that will embarrass them. You don’t want to bottle out of a trial.

‘I wanted to show my girls especially, my baby boy is a little bit too young, but my girls are 15 and 12 years old and we sat down and had a big conversation about it as a family. Both of them were just begging me to do it. 

‘I said to them I’ll be as strong as I can be, I wanted to show them, and other little girls, keep walking through the fire. 

‘In the 16 years since I last did the jungle, I’ve really been tested and had to really hold your nerve. And that’s what this is and why I’m A Celebrity is just a phenomenal programme, because it tests you on every single level. 

‘You don’t have your friends and family around you, your moral compass and you have to make your own choices on everything. You’re so far from home, I missed my children so much. But they made me a necklace and every trial I just held on to it.’

I wanted to go to the bush as I wanted to say goodbye, to say thank you for what the jungle has given me. The jungle back in Australia gave me my family, gave me my work, gave me my career. And this time round, it has been every bit as magical as I remembered it to be. But it was time for me to say thank you to it, and goodbye to it.

Former pop star Myleene came out on top after entering the camp in Kruger National Park in South Africa late, with Jordan, former Olympic javelin thrower Fatima, former England cricketer Phil, television presenter Carol Vorderman, 62, former Royal Household butler Paul Burrell, 64, actress Helen Flanagan, 32 and ex soap actor Dean Gaffney, 45, amongst those taking part.

Also appearing in this series was former EastEnders cast member Joe Swash, 41, supermodel Janice Dickinson, 68, Coronation Street star Andy Whyment, 42, former Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo, 28, former professional boxer Amir Khan, 36, TV nutritionist Gillian McKeith, 63, and Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder, 60.

Show bosses did not make it easy for final campmates Myleene and Jordan as they took part in the ultimate eating trial, with Ant remarking: ‘If you do this, you deserve to be crowned the first ever Legend of I’m A Celeb!’

Watched on by their former campmates, the two stars were shown the jungle nasties they would be eating, with the stars suggesting the number of each item they thought they could eat in five minutes.

The celeb that chose the highest number then tried to eat the amount they had chosen in the allotted time.

If they succeeded, they bagged a point. However, if they couldn’t stomach it and failed, their opponent got a point.

The battle saw the final two campmates take on nine dishes – including fermented eggs and mice tails – to determine who walked away as champion.

Earlier in the episode, Myleene, Jordan and Fatima had to face a challenge to decide who would make it into the top two.

The trio faced a trial that relied on them being able to count to six minutes, while enduring being covered in a whole manner of critters.

They each sat in a contraption that had their feet in boxes, their hands in hell holes and their heads in helmets.

Their feet were surrounded by biting green ants, while cockroaches and crickets surrounded their hands, while they came face-to-face with snakes of varying sizes in their helmets.

The three celebrities were tasked with hitting their buzzer when thought six minutes had passed. 

Myleene and Jordan went through to the final as they came closest to six minutes, while Fatima was sent home.

It came after there was a shock twist in Thursday’s instalment as all the previously eliminated campmates returned to decide the fate of the final four.

The returning stars had to pick the three people they wanted to send to the final while they chose one to send home, with Phil being nominated.

He said upon departure: ‘I couldn’t think of a better three to make it through… I absolutely love my time in camp… It’s just the best holiday I’ve ever had.’

Hearing she’d made it through to the final three, Myleene was seen in tears in the Bush Telegraph, saying: ‘My children are going to be so happy.’ 

I’m A Celebrity… South Africa bosses ditched the show’s male and female Jungle King and Queen gender categories for the spin-off series.

But instead of the winner being a King or Queen of the Jungle at the end of the three-week competition – they were crowned an I’m A Celebrity Legend.

A statement from ITV read: ‘With no public vote, they will be competing against each other in a battle to become the first ever “I’m A Celebrity Legend”.’ 

The change was made for the first time in 21 years before the all stars version hit ITV.

The show was pre-recorded in South Africa’s Kruger National Park September last year, with the first episode airing last month.

Watch the full series of I’m A Celebrity….South Africa! via ITVX.