I’m A Celebrity has a surprise millionaire – and it’s not who you think
Posted by  badge Boss on Nov 22
A new millionaire has entered the camp on I’m A Celebrity (Picture: ITV)

is ramping up on – and things might be about to get even more tense after another millionaire entered the camp.

So far, we’ve been treated to ’ and more jokes than you could shake a stick at.

The long-running reality series, which has been on the air since 2002, has stayed steady in the ITV ratings last year.

And more people might yet catch up and give the series another ratings boost if the latest entrance to camp proves to be an exciting one, with Reverend Richard Coles now in the game.

He joined the likes of Coleen Rooney, Alan Halsall, Tulisa Contostavlos, and Barry McGuigan during Wednesday night’s 9pm show, alongside fellow new arrival Maura Higgins.

But what do we know about the Reverend’s past life and work and how has his successful career contributed to the vast fortune he now has?

Reverend Richard Coles has an estimated net worth of £3.9 million (Picture: James Gourley/Shutterstock)

Who is I’m A Celebrity 2024’s surprise millionaire?

Reverend Richard Coles, 62, is a former 1980s pop star-turned-reverend-turned-broadcaster, and is sure to shake things up in the I’m A Celebrity camp.

The TV vicar was once part of the 1980s pop group The Communards, alongside Jimmy Sommerville who also sang in the duo Bronski Beat.

He later appeared on several TV shows, wrote a number of fiction and non-fiction books, and has also been a regular radio broadcaster for 20 years.

It has all added up to an estimated net worth of up to £3.9 million, with data from Companies House also confirming that Reverend Richard is doing just fine for himself.

Reverend Richard topped the charts with The Communards in 1986 (Picture: Tim Roney/Getty)
He entered the jungle with Love Island’s Maura Higgins (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Mistramark Ltd., which the Reverend owns, currently has more than £540,000 cash in the bank, and its reserves are three times larger than they were this time last year, sitting at over £350,000.

Documents have also confirmed that Mistramark Ltd. paid almost £180,000 in corporation tax in 2023. Given that the rate was 19% at the time, it’s been estimated that the company made almost £1million.

Added to his success on TV and in the music industry, it’s no wonder Richard’s estimated net worth is so high.

While The Communards were only around for three years, their success was huge, landing two massive albums and a handful of hit singles on the way.

Reverend Richard was ordained in the mid-2000s (Picture: John Phillips/Getty Images)

Their cover of Don’t Leave Me This Way, originally by Harold Melvin, went to number one in the UK and stayed there for four whole weeks in September 1986.

After leaving pop behind, he studied at university and realised he saw a future for himself in religion, eventually being selected for priesthood and becoming ordained in the early 2000s.

Reverend Richard started his broadcasting career around the same time, appearing on numerous TV shows and radio programmes for the BBC.

In the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing, he was partnered with Dianne Buswell – sadly they finished second last after being eliminated on just 14 points from the judges.

That hasn’t put him off appearing on more TV shows, however, with I’m A Celebrity yet another talent contest he’s entered

He has also written several best-selling mystery novels and memoirs, which has all added to his fortune over his 40 years in the spotlight.

Can he add King of the Jungle to his list of achievements over the years?

Watch I’m A Celebrity on ITV and ITVX, 9pm weeknights.