One individual who has collaborated with the famous pair Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly revealed a heartwarming gesture made by the iconic duo behind the scenes.
The former Made In Chelsea star, Sam Thompson, emerged as the winner of the reality show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2023. The following year, he returned to Australia to host the spin-off program I’m A Celebrity Unpacked alongside Joel Dommett and Kemi Rodgers.
Sam, aged 33, traveled to Australia alone, where he was warmly welcomed by Ant and Dec, the long-time hosts of I’m A Celebrity. He expressed his gratitude for the duo’s kindness, mentioning how they included him in their outings to ensure he felt included and not lonely.
He shared his sentiments on Ant and Dec’s podcast Hanging Out, stating, “They say never meet your heroes. But I’m very glad I did because you guys are just the nicest, most loveliest lads in the world.
“And if this is going on the pod, for anyone listening, when I was in Australia on my own the lads used to invite me out for a beer and some food because they’re such nice people and made me feel very welcome.
“And they’re absolute legends and I love you both so much and I’m going to stop rambling now because I’m panicking.”
The admiration was mutual as Ant and Dec, both aged 50, expressed their fondness for Sam. Ant remarked, “He’s a very nice guy, isn’t he? And I’m not just saying that because he was very nice about us, he’s a genuinely lovely man.” Dec chimed in, “He is, he’s a good soul, he’s a good egg.”
Sam’s victory in the 23rd series of the show was well-received, triumphing over former boxer Tony Bellew and controversial figure Nigel Farage in the final.
Ant recently revealed his reluctance to host a particular show due to difficulties in crowd control. Ant and Dec have been the faces of various popular TV programs in the UK, including I’m A Celeb, Britain’s Got Talent, and Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
They have also hosted the BRIT Awards in the past. In a podcast episode, the duo expressed relief at not hosting the ceremony this year, emphasizing their respect for British music through the awards.
Catch Ant and Dec on the latest episode of Britain’s Got Talent airing tonight on ITV from 7pm to 8.15pm. Joining them will be judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI as contestants vie for a spot in the live semi-finals.
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