finalist has revealed what being a part of the iconic reality programme until the very end was really like.
The X Factor star, 35, crowned King of the Jungle.
And now, with to take on and ’s final bushtucker trial, , Jake has recalled his experience, including one part which was ‘anti-climactic’.
‘It was all a bit of a blur for me,’ Jake told Metro.co.uk.
‘I was really excited to be there no matter where I finished, so the fact that I got to the final and ended up finishing second was just amazing.
‘But all I can remember is the day before we got some food, and I ate far too much and felt sick for 24 hours because I ate everything in sight.’
While the hunger the contestants face is no joke, after meals of measly rice and beans, Jake somehow thought there would be secret food waiting for him behind-the-scenes.
He revealed: ‘You know the beauty of I’m A Celebrity is what you see, is what’s happening.
‘Obviously, there’s certain bits that they’re not going to show, but apart from that… I was really surprised because I went in there and I thought we might get a bit of food handed to us here or there, they might lower down a Domino’s pizza.
‘But what happened was what the viewers saw.’
One part of the final episode wasn’t quite what Jake had prepared himself for.
After leaving the jungle as runner-up, he wasn’t able to make the notorious walk across the bridge to meet his mum.
‘I didn’t even get to walk across the bridge, I remember rocking up and my mum was there, and it was a bit of an anti-climax because I never got to do the bridge,’ he said.
He added: ‘It was a great experience, and they will be struggling with the lack of food and the lack of sleep and that but at the end of the day, it’s only three weeks, so you’ve just got to remember that.’
Talking about his advice as a finalist for the contestants, Jake shared: ‘I’d just say embrace it, because you’ve made it this far. Now just enjoy the last few days, you’ve done the hard bit, you’ve done the rice and beans.
‘Just enjoy it and embrace every second because I was in ten years ago and it still feels like yesterday.’
Jake elsewhere admitted that he thinks the show is now ‘easier’, as the likes of andhave been taking on the critters, he told us: ‘I think the challenges are a bit easier from when I was on it, but I probably would say that because when you’re doing it, it seems a lot harder.
‘I think it’s been a really good year, it’s been quite light-hearted. There’s been a few discussions in there but there have been a lot of characters in it this year, and I’m excited to see who is going to win.’
He added: ‘They’ve all been great campmates, whether or not people have liked them or loathed them, they’ve all done their part to make this year entertaining.’
Jake went on: ‘This generation loves shows like that, which is why YouTube Shorts is so important, because this generation spends so much time online, watching shows, commenting on shows, so having positive things to watch and positive things to learn is really important for kids nowadays.’
He went on: ‘Being online is so relevant now, so it’s important to give people really important things to do and learn rather than just being online and scrolling.’
YouTube is now celebrating diverse hobbies across online platforms, highlighting pet portraits as a favourite, with Jake saying: ‘I’ve got younger kids and I think YouTube Shorts is available for everybody now, but as an 18-24 year old, I think I’d be influenced by learning to play the piano, the guitar, cooking, my wife would want me to watch Shorts and learn how to cook.’
‘There’s so many hobbies to get involved in,’ Jake added, including the platform’s new campaign to try out pet portrait painting on YouTube Shorts channel .
Shorts is the spot to shoot, share, and binge short videos (think 60 seconds or less) on YouTube. It’s where you can go to start trends, try out a dance challenge, bring your hilarious ideas to life, and more.
To try out pet portrait painting and other hobbies right now, go to to discover more and be inspired to tap into your creativity.
With its vast library of content, YouTube Shorts gives people the opportunity to discover and interact with diverse new hobbies and interests, and is the perfect place to inspire you to move from viewing to doing. All you need is your phone and an idea, and you’re good to go.
The I’m A Celebrity final airs tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
