Jill Scott has said she is “still in shock after winning I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The former footballer, who was named Queen of the Jungle after two rounds of public voting in the final of the ITV reality show, added that she has been “overwhelmed” by the public support.
She won the first round with 47.3% of the votes compared with 21.7% for former health secretary Matt Hancock as Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner claimed 31%.
She then won the final vote with 57.7%, compared with Warner’s 42.3%, ITV said.
She wrote on Instagram on Thursday: “Thanks from the bottom of my heart for all the support whilst I was in the jungle!
“I’m totally overwhelmed and appreciate every single message, vote and just overall kindness! I’m still completely in shock and I don’t think Queen of the Jungle will ever sink in!
“One thing I do know is I leave with so many great friends and that for me is the biggest win!
“Time to get home, shower a few more times and catch up with loved ones THANKYOU.”
The midfielder – who was part of the Women’s Euro 2022 winning team and later retired in the summer – posted a story on Instagram on Wednesday showing that she had arrived back in the UK from Australia.
It showed her returning to Boxx2Boxx Coffee in Manchester, which she owns with her fiancee, Shelly Unitt.
Scott told ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Monday that she does not have “a plan in place” for what she will do now.
“I actually don’t know what I’m going to do next,” she said. “I just feel, like, if you give everything every single day and keep trying to be a good person, then we’ll just see what happens.”
A total of 10.1 million viewers tuned in to Sunday’s final, ITV said, making it the highest-rated since football manager Harry Redknapp won in 2018.
Four years ago, an average of 10.9 million watched the series finale.
This year’s total is an increase of 3.6 million viewers on the end of the 2021 series, which saw celebrities roughing it at Gwrych Castle in Wales, ITV added.
Sunday’s show attracted a peak audience of 11.5 million viewers.
A post-series Coming Out show will airing on Thursday at 9.15pm on ITV and ITV Hub.