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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Mark Jefferies & Charlotte Tutton

Jill Scott wins I'm A Celebrity 2022 as she beats Owen Warner and Matt Hancock to crown

Lioness Jill Scott has won I'm A Celebrity 2022, beating fellow finalists Matt Hancock and Owen Warner to the crown.

The 35-year-old looked thrilled as she was victorious on the ITV series, hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly confirmed on Sunday night, after spending three weeks in camp.

Owen came second on the show, while Hancock finished in third place.

The football star was elated with her big win, with her new friends and co-stars cheering her on as she was declared the new Queen of the Jungle.

Speaking as she was crowned Queen of the Jungle, Jill smiled wildly as she celebrated her win. Owen, who placed second, was also thrilled for her.

"I can't believe it. I honestly think I'm going to owe my grandma a lot of money," she said, "These guys were absolutely incredible. I don't think there should be one winner."

Lioness Jill Scott has won I'm A Celebrity 2022 (ITV)

Fans rushed to social media to congratulate Jill on her win as Mike Tindall, who finished fourth, handed over her crown.

"YESSSSS QUEEN JILL IM SO HAPPY RN AHHHH @JillScottJS8 #ImACelebrity #ImACeleb #Imaceleb2022," one wrote as another added: "Long live the queen #imaceleb."

A third shared: "YES JILL QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE #ImACeleb," as a fourth penned: "Go on Jill! 100% the right result #ImACeleb."

Amid fears disgraced Tory MP Hancock would storm to victory despite backlash over him being on the show, viewers breathed a sigh of relief as Jill was announced as this year's winner, and the first Australian series champ in three years.

Hancock, meanwhile, finished in third place - with hosts Ant and Dec appearing relieved by this before they grilled him over the backlash he had faced from campmates and viewers at home.

Fans rushed to social media to congratulate Jill on her win, as Owen came second (ITV)

"That was something," Hancock told the Geordie duo as he sat down ready to look back on his time on the jungle.

Laughing, Dec replied: "That's one way of summing it up."

On him being grilled by his co-stars about joining the series, he told the presenters: "Some of those grillings were really, really enjoyable and a release," Mr Hancock admitted when quizzed about his campmates frosty reaction to his arrival.

"And some were very emotional about... some of the parts of my past that everyone knows about."

When asked by Dec if he understands why people have questions, Mr Hancock replied: "Of course. I live with it and I feel it and but was I was able to do is have grown up conversations about it."

Hancock was then reunited with his lover Gina Coladangelo on the famous bridge (James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Hancock was then reunited with his lover Gina Coladangelo on the famous bridge, where he became teary as he told her he "loved her".

He raced down to meet her before they embraced in a reunion many viewers called "cringe", before he made the declaration of love.

Gina, who he embarked on a relationship with last year despite both of them being married, was waiting for him as he made his way out of the studio.

Hancock shouted out as he hugged her: "Oh my God, seriously... oh I love you so much."

Back to Jill, and her big win followed the former footballer sharing her gratitude for making it to the final. Jill said prior to her second big win of the year: "My heart is so full it really is. I'm just so grateful for 2022 and for this amazing experience."

Jill's magical year peaked in the Summer when the England women's team won the Euros at Wembley. But she retired from the game shortly after the tournament and has now triumphed in a primetime TV show, and won millions more admirers for her down-to-earth personality and sense of humour on the show.

She added prior to the winner being announced: "When I first stepped into the jungle and looked around at all of the celebrities, no way am I getting anywhere near that final. To be part of the final three with Owen and Matt, god, it just meant the world.

"I’ve watched it since being a little kid. I’m still in shock to be honest."

Before going onto the show, Jill had said she was expecting to be starstruck despite being an idol to many young footballers.

Jill beat fellow finalists Matt Hancock and Owen Warner to the crown (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

At the time she said: "I don't see myself as a celebrity, not by any means. I'm just somebody who loves playing football and give me heart and soul for it. So yes, they'll definitely be a bit imposter syndrome."

But she showed no signs of nerves and got stuck in straight away on the show, taking on The Ledge trial alongside Charlene White as they hung on a tiny ledge on the roof of a building 32 storeys high.

She also smashed a horrendous drinking trial Speak Uneasy alongside Mike Tindall, and wore a bonnet on the bonnet of a flying car in Critty Critty Fang Fang where she won meals for camp.

And after taking part in Scareground she had to have a cockroach removed from her ear by medics.

Jill was announced this year's winner, and the first Australian series champ in three years (ITV)

Jill also loved to play around on the show and, whether it be football with finalist Owen or dance routines with Scarlette Douglas, she kept the camp smiling.

She was praised as an "amazing role model" for a conversation with Boy George and other campmates a week ago about coming out, and how her sexuality was received by the footballing community.

As she and Boy George both spoke about being gay during a candid chat, former Manchester City star Jill said: "I think when you get to the point where it’s like not a question… in my head it’s just simple, you find someone, you fall in love with them, if it’s a woman, a man, but I don’t think it defines you at all.”

Jill was asked by co-star Seann Walsh if women were more 'open' about their sexuality, given the lack of openly gay male players in the Premier League, to which she replied: "I think in the men’s game, it’s so difficult. If you think about how much stick they get from the chants… it’s just not a safe environment where they feel safe enough to kind of do that. And that’s so sad. But yeah in women’s football it’s just never an issue. Some have partners that are female, some are married to men, yeah…”

For much of the last week Jill was the only female in the camp. She addressed this, saying: "You have to believe in yourself, and believe you can add something - and we need a girl in there!"

Now Jill is out of camp she is expected to make millions as an in-demand celebrity for endorsements and TV shows.

She already owns a coffee shop and has plans to get into football coaching but she will be in high demand in the coming months.

Sources close to Jill have said the range of offers and roles being presented to her management team are incredible, and in some cases extremely lucrative. ITV are also likely to want her to make programmes as well as appear on shows like Loose Women.

A source close to Jill said: "The response has been incredible and Jill will be able to pick and choose what she does next. "Her team has been bombarded with offers of TV work and endorsements and all kinds of invites."

I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! is available to watch now on ITVX.

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