Reigning King of the Jungle Sam Thompson said ‘It’s good to be home’ as he returned to Australia to present I’m a Celebrity‘s new spin-off show, Unpacked.
It’s been less than a year since Sam, 32, arrived at Brisbane Airport as a hopeful contestant with the Strictly star and his best friends, Pete Wicks, his support system.
His girlfriend of five years, Zara McDermott, has not accompanied him again this year and he told MailOnline: ‘I don’t know if Zara will be coming out, that’s a good question. Maybe, if she’s not working, maybe. That would be really nice, if she could come out it would be really nice to see her.’
It is also believed that Pete Wicks will make the journey back out again as his rumoured girlfriend Maura Higgins is tipped to be a contestant and Sam is staying out for the duration of the show.
It’s his ultimate dream to become Ant and Dec ‘s best friend. And it looks like Sam Thompson is in with a chance as he landed in Brisbane Airport to present the I’m a Celebrity spin-off show
The 32-year-old, who was crowned King of the Jungle last year after he won the nation’s hearts with his boundless energy and charms, was joined on the flights by his co-host Joel Dommett
Speaking about the TOWIE star’s emotional dance on Strictly Come Dancing last night, Sam said: ‘I called Pete when I was in the layover. He smashed his dance I watched it on the flight, it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. He deserved that ten from Shirley. So beautiful.’
The former Made in Chelsea star was the fan favourite last year with his boundless energy and while he would not confirm when he had landed his ‘dream’ presenting gig, it is believed ITV bosses signed him up shortly after victory.
He arrived at Brisbane Airport with his co-hosts Joel Dommett and Kemi Rogers after his flight was almost diverted to Sydney due to a horrendous thunderstorm threatening the safety of their landing.
Revealing what he would do with his time in Australia, Sam said: ‘I’m just going to be trying to get to know Joel as best as I can while I’m out here so that he becomes my brother. Definitely trying to track down Ant and Dec, seeing where they’re staying seeing if I can hang out with them. Try and make best friends for life.’
A raging thunderstorm threatened to divert the plane carrying the first I’m A Celeb stars to Sydney Airport.
But Sam, Joel and Kemi were one of the last passengers to touch down in Brisbane unscathed – all other flights had to make the 1:35 hour diversion.
In a hellish experience for passengers the plane was forced to hang above the runway for a time before it could land.
His girlfriend of five years, Zara McDermott , has not accompanied him again this year and he told MailOnline: ‘I don’t know if Zara will be coming out’
It’s been less than a year since Sam, 32, arrived at Brisbane Airport as a hopeful contestant with the Strictly star
Sam told MailOnline that he called his best friend Pete Wicks during the flight’s layover to congratulate him on his emotional dance on Strictly Come Dancing last night
The night before Sam made the more than 20 hour trip to Australia shared a video of himself in bed with his girlfriend, Zara McDermott, talking about his upcoming trip.
He shared how excited he was that his new job meant he could finally become ‘best friends with Ant and Dec’.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 27, jokingly reminded him that it was ‘just a spin-off show’ and that he wouldn’t be working with the Geordie duo.
I’m A Celebrity Unpacked which will air after the main show and Ant and Dec’s quick episode round-up, Jungle Club.
Guests will appear on the show to reflect on the day’s episode as well as exclusive inside gossip with Joel Dommett, who hosted the previous companion show Extra which was axed in 2020.
At the start of the Pandemic when I’m A Celeb enjoyed a brief stint in Wales, Extra Camp was replaced with The Daily Drop hosted by Vick Hope but this was axed in 2021 and no companion show replaced it until now.
Capital Radio DJ, Kemi Rodgers is the third host of the brand new spin-off show
McFly frontman Danny Jones was the first star to touch down in Brisbane Airport ahead of this year’s I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here