I’m A Celebrity 2021 FINAL: Danny Miller is crowned the first king of the castle

Danny Miller has been crowned the first king of the castle, while Simon Gregson came second and Frankie Bridge third in Sunday’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! final.   

The Emmerdale star, 30, sat on the throne and proudly wore  the floral crown before heading outside to do his exit walk in disbelief saying: ‘This is mental, wow.’

Danny said in his exit interview with Ant and Dec that he took part in the show to set up his baby son with a better future.

Simon Gregson said of his loss: ‘Thank you to all of you at home who kept me here. [cheeky stare] thanks, it means a lot. I’m just so chuffed that you got it.’

The new winner discussed in his exit interview the fact he left his three week old son Albert. He explained this decision by saying: ‘I wanted to be able to give him the future he deserves, I wasn’t in a position to do that.’

He the said on the intensity of the castle: ‘When you’re up you’re up and then you get homesick and it lowers the mood.’

Danny also said that his man crush and idol David Ginola in the castle ‘exceeded [his] expectations’ and that ‘he was the reason why I wanted to be a winger.’

Speaking as he sat on the throne for the first time, the speechless star admitted: ‘I can’t believe it. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it!’

Frankie did the honours of giving Danny his crown. She quipped: ‘This is the last thing I do for you.’

He continued: ‘From the bottom of my heart and my family’s heart this is the proudest thing I’ve ever done. I can’t believe that I’ve won this… I’m in shock.’

Danny follows in the footsteps of last year’s Queen of the Castle, Giovanna Fletcher, 36, who would normally hand over the crown, but due to COVID-19 guidelines, this tradition was axed this year.

Simon then spoke to the pair in his exit interview about his experience and discussed whether it was as bad as he thought.He said: ‘No it wasn’t. I hate spiders and never admitted that in the telegraph so I didn’t get them in a trial.’

On having a laugh in the castle he said: ‘You’ve just got to get into the zone.’

Earlier in the show, Frankie packed up her belongings and donned her hat to walk out the castle to have her exit interview with hosts when she placed third.

The former Saturdays singer, 32, spoke to the presenting duo about her time in the castle.

After watching her best bits she said: ‘Oh that sums it up nicely’ before telling them she was ecstatic about beating her husband Wayne Bridge who came fifth in the competition.

She also said: ‘I wanted to prove to myself that I could do things I was scared of.’

Frankie said of the overall experience and her journey: ‘I’ve never been in a situation where your mood is up here and then down there. It’s bonkers.’

On her toughest trial she said: ‘I think probably the last one. I didn’t know there was going to be other ones. You then pushed me into the darkness!’

She then admitted she thinks Danny Miller will win this year’s competition.

The final episode saw Frankie, Danny and Simon complete their final trials in order to win their luxury final meals.

On Saturday, viewers were shocked when fan favourite David Ginola was eliminated from the competition and lost his place in the final.

In the final, Danny completed his trial to try and win starters for the three, while Simon tried to win mains, and Frankie desserts for their final three courses.

Speaking to hosts Ant and Declan ahead of his final Trial, Danny said: ‘To be in the final, never saw that coming. So thankful mate.’

Addressing footballer David Ginola leaving the castle on Saturday night, Danny said: ‘I couldn’t believe it, he’s been like a dad type figure in here, so I was gutted.

Danny’s trial, called Fill Your Face saw him sitting on a Castle chair with a large see-through helmet placed on top of his head which is filled to the brim with castle critters

More insects were added every two minutes. For every two minutes endured he won a star.

He reluctantly took the ten minute challenge so he could win the treat, drink and starter.

As he took part, Dec asked was he thinking, ‘What life choices led me to be here right now?’

Danny joked: ‘I don’t know, but I’m going to ask my agent.’

During it, Danny started singing and Ant joined in. Danny then admitted: ‘Wow, it’s intense this isn’t it? This is the worst one you know.’

‘Something’s biting me you know!’ Danny said.

Maggots, beetles, witchetty grubs, crickets, and giant hoppers were loaded into the medieval-like helmet as Danny shook his head.

He said: ‘This is the worst one you know’ as he sweated through the challenge before cockroaches were added.

‘They’re cockroaches,’ Ant and Dec said as he said ‘Yeah he can smell them.’

Danny then said he was being bitten on the neck and that it felt like a love bite.

Afterwards Danny said: ‘Proud of myself, just hope my family are.’

Simon, meanwhile, had to take part in the final eating challenge, called Frightening Feast, with his first dish being a pig’s eye.

Speaking to Ant and Dec of reaching the final, Simon laughed: ‘Wow, you know, got down to the final three, so obviously been making the right trumping noises.’

Explaining his final meal choice was lamb chops and mash with a side of peppercorn sauce, Simon said: ‘I’ve been hankering after peppercorn sauce.’

As Ant and Dec queried the choice, he added: ‘Peppercorn sauce with lamb, you’ve made me think now.’

As he faced his first dish of the Trial, pig’s eye, Simon joked: ‘Have you got any peppercorn sauce?’

He said after: ‘Tasted like you’ve left a pork scratching in your pocket for a week.’

Next up in an I’m A Celebrity first, he had goat tongue to which Dec joked: ‘Any feedback is gratefully received.’

Simon laughed: ‘The feedback, you may want to stand back. I’ve got a very delicate constitution.’

As he ate it, Ant said: ‘You can really smell it. Really ‘goat-y”.’

Next was Fermented Castle Gruel, which was made up of fermented egg, tofu, plums and more.

Dec said: ‘So just whack the whole bowl down.’

‘Do it like Oliver Twist’ Ant said to him who then said he should imagine it to be peppercorn sauce.

Simon then left a small bit in the bowl which Ant pointed out to him.

Next Simon faced sheep’s penis who described the dish as chewy and then turned to soft.

In an I’m A Celebrity first Simon was then served cow’s vagina which Simon was shocked at.

Ant and Dec joked he’d have eaten a farmyard by the end and started singing ‘Steve McDonald ate a farm.’

At the end a relieved Simon said: ‘Oh my goodness, I’ve done it!’

‘But you’ve lost your dignity,’ Ant joked to him.

The show then turned to Frankie, who had to take part in her final trial called Tomb Of Doom.

Speaking about how she feels about reaching the final, she said: ‘I don’t know how I’ve managed it.’

She also said to the presenting duo: ‘I don’t have to see you two ever again!’

Which Ant and Dec seemed offended by. Frankie laughed and joked she would turn the other way if she saw them out.

Frankie was then told her final Trial would see her locked inside a tomb, which would be slid inside a chamber in the Castle wall.

She was joined by snakes and would need to stay inside for 10 minutes; every two minutes earned a star.

Getting in the tomb, Frankie said: ‘This is a trial in itself, nothing’s even in here with me yet.’

As the snakes started to join her Frankie hummed, and she said: ‘I mean, I’m not loving life. One’s going up my armpit.’ 

Snakes went over the former singer’s face which she was not best pleased about.  

In the final two minutes, the lights went off. She said: ‘Oh my god, it’s pitch black. My body’s never been so tense in all its life.’

By the end, Frankie was joined by 60 snakes inside the confined space.

To keep herself calm, Frankie started repeating to herself her dessert choice: ‘Apple crumble, apple crumble.’

Laughing as she was pulled out of the tomb, she then admitted: ‘I can’t believe that this is my life.’

Afterwards it was all over, Frankie said: ‘I can’t believe I’ve done it. I really wanted to do an animal one so I feel I can go home and I’ve ticked all the boxes.’

After she left Ant said: ‘That was hardcore.’

The trials were worth it, though, and all the contestants won their luxurious final meals. 

The trio each got to pick their final meals on the show, with Frankie choosing baked camembert, roast beef dinner, apple crumble and custard and white chocolate fingers.

Simon, meanwhile, opted for prawn cocktail, lamb chops, mash and peppercorn sauce on the side, Eton Mess and chocolate.  

Danny chose halloumi fries, full English breakfast, cheeseboard and chocolate.

Frankie ecstatically said: ‘There was this big table with a white cloth on, real cutlery and glasses! I’ve not drunk out of glass for so long. It just looked like the perfect romantic meal for three.’

Simon then said: ‘It was absolutely immense!’

Danny laughed: ‘This is a joke… this has been the first meal we’re eating off proper plates, real food cooked by proper people who are trained to do it and as far as I’m concerned, we’re going to eat the lot, from start to finish. I can’t wait!’

As they ate Frankie said: ‘The friendships you make in here are ridiculous really.’

Rounding up their experiences Simon said: ‘I feel like I’ve grown to be more confident in front of people I don’t know.’

‘I spent a long time overdoing it some way and it’s taken a lot for me to not care what people think.’

Frankie then confessed: ‘I think I’ve realised I’m a lot more resilient than I thought I was.’

Danny said: ‘I genuinely think if we can all survive this you can achieve a lot more than you believed.’

All three of them were absolutely stuffed at the end of the three course meal, to which Frankie commented: ‘I have a feeling it’s going to be a fight for the toilet tonight.’

They all agreed that being so stuffed was like a trial within itself.

Simon then said: ‘Congratulations to whoever the King or Queen may be!’

The 2021 series was not without its challenges, with TV legend Richard Madeley, 65, being forced to pull out early after falling ill in camp.

Storm Arwen also caused havoc leading to the show being cancelled for two nights in a row for the first time in its almost two decades history.