Tony Blackburn has given the contestants some hilarious advice (Picture: ITV/Rex/Shutterstock)
A former I’m A Celebrity winner has issued a three-word warning to any famous faces who are thinking about going into the jungle.
Former BBC DJ Tony Blackburn, 81, was the first contestant to be crowned as King or Queen of the Jungle during the inaugural ITV series in 2004.
Tony, who also hosted Top of the Pops from 1967 to 1983, took the crown from runner-up Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and third place Christine Hamilton.
As the first winner of the series, Tony laid the groundwork for how to win the competition, and has been asked about I’m A Celebrity in the years since.
However, speaking on The One Show on Thursday, Tony gave some unexpected advice to anyone planning on entering the ITV show.
‘Don’t do it.’
The BBC DJ reigned supreme in the first I’m A Celebrity series (Picture: Cameron Laird/REX/Shutterstock)
Hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp burst into laughter, with Alex quipping that any celebrity heading into the jungle should, as the title says, ‘get out of there!’
While Tony did clarify that he was only joking, he did admit that I’m A Celebrity was a ‘hard’ experience that nobody should take lightly.
‘It’s a hard show to do. And I’m a vegetarian, so I didn’t have to eat all that stuff. I couldn’t do it now – it’s horrible, the stuff they have to eat.’
Tony received an OBE earlier this year (Picture: Andrew Matthews – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
He joined the BBC back in the late 1960s (Picture: Bill Rowntree/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
He continued, giving real advice to his fellow celebs this time: ‘But I think you’ve just got to be yourself on [the show], it’s because that’s all you can do.’
Despite winning the show, Tony only collected 58% of the stars available to him – however, he was only nominated for two trials towards the end of that year’s competition.
Tony received the highest number of votes from the public every day he was in there, while the likes of Nell McAndrew, Uri Geller, and Rhona Cameron going home early.
Speaking of going home early, I’m A Celeb fans were left devastated on Thursday after a shock double eviction saw two campmates leave.
Time was up for Barry McGuigan and Maura Higgins on Thursday (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
Before Thursday’s shocking events, eight celebrities remained in camp: Coleen Rooney, Danny Jones, Oti Mabuse, Maura Higgins, Reverend Richard Coles, GK Barry, Alan Halsall, and Barry McGuigan.
Sadly, time was up for champion boxer Barry and Love Island alum Maura who became the fifth and sixth campmates to walk across the famous bridge.
Viewers weren’t happy at all, with @BeckyLee91 ranting on X: ‘Jesus Christ (sorry Father), how is Maura not in the final four?!’
@odlumsflower added on X: ‘I’m actually raging and also surprised that Maura has been voted out of I’m A Celebrity …she was really starting to grow on me.’
@BelleEllis wasn’t happy either: ‘I’m gutted that Maura is gone from I’m A Celeb. She made the show for me. I won’t be tuning into it after tonight. Was only watching for her. Thanks Maura for being iconic.’
It all means that there are six contestants left fighting for a place in Sunday’s final, with another elimination planned for Friday night.
Watch I’m A Celebrity on ITV and ITVX, Friday at 9pm.
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