The race for the jungle crown on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! 2023 intensifies as Josie Gibson, the last woman standing, bids a brave goodbye, securing fourth place in the thrilling reality series.
Amidst the heart-pounding suspense, hosts Ant and Dec unveiled the latest elimination during the penultimate episode on Saturday (December 9), marking the end of Josie Gibson’s jungle saga. Her departure now paves the way for Tony Bellew, Sam Thompson, and Nigel Farage to compete for the coveted title in tonight’s final.
Reflecting on her rollercoaster journey, Gibson shared, “My time in the jungle has been an adventure,” bravely acknowledging her arachnophobia, now seemingly tamed after encountering the “steroid” spiders of Australia. “I think I will be less scared of house spiders back home,” she quipped.
Addressing her departure as the sole woman amidst the remaining male trio, Gibson stated that she is known as a “girl’s girl,” but expressed her enjoyment to be in the company of those final three male campmates. Talking about the spine-chilling trials she said, “Some of the trials, it was like you were watching a horror film. I couldn’t believe you do stuff like this to people. But you do! I surprised myself, I’m stronger than I thought.”
Gibson humorously recounted her clash with Fred Sirieix over culinary prowess, playfully recalling the “battle of the chefs” and her victorious culinary escapades that led to her and Sirieix in a showdown that has unfortunately been left on the producer’s cutting room floor. “I’m sorry, Fred, but everyone enjoyed my food more!” she joked – although it seemed many actually agreed.
Her memorable moments spanned from inadvertent verbal slips in serious conversations to spine-tingling shrieks at the sight of huge huntsman spiders. Developing profound connections, notably with Danielle Harold, she made an indelible mark on camp life.
The heart-pounding episode included the iconic Celebrity Cyclone challenge, a beloved and adrenaline-pumping trial that consistently captivates both the celebrity participants and the viewers alike. As the contestants donned their shimmering Lycra hotpants, they courageously ventured up a huge water slide, battling relentless water jets, huge wind machines, and inflatable balls as they carried huge foam stars to star spots on the slide – their task was to have their own stars on their chosen star spots by the time the claxon sounds.
Renowned for its spectacle and sheer entertainment, the Celebrity Cyclone stands as a hallmark trial, eagerly anticipated each series. However, this year marked an unprecedented moment as Declan Donnelly, for the first time in the history of the Celebrity Cyclone, inadvertently dropped his flag, adding a hilarious twist to this exhilarating challenge.
Josie Gibson follows the trail of departures to have been evicted, Frankie Dettori, Nella Rose, Fred Sirieix, Nick Pickard, Danielle Harold, and Marvin Humes. The first two to leave the camp were Grace Dent and Jamie Lynn Spears, who both voluntarily left due to medical concerns, last week. Spears then later popped back up on American TV at the Dancing With The Stars Season 32 finale in which she danced again with her partner from the season, Alan Bersten. The question is, will she be catching a flight back to Australia to be at the final and watch the King of the Jungle be crowned?
As the anticipation crescendos, the question remains: Who will emerge as this year’s King of the Jungle? The climactic revelation awaits during tonight’s live final.
As we await the crowning on ITV1 at 9 PM – which will later be available to catch-up on ITVX – why not check out our article from when the celebrities were announced where you can follow each of the campmates across all social media channels?
