I'm A Celebrity final 2020: winner Giovanna Fletcher crowned contest's first ever Queen of the Castle

Michael Hogan
·21 min read
Giovanna Fletcher was crowned Queen of the Castle - ITV
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The grand finale of the new-look survival series saw gruesome trials, a lavish last supper and a queen crowned.

Here are all the talking points and social media reaction…

Giovanna Fletcher mothered her way to victory

Last woman standing Giovanna Fletcher might have been the only female in the final six but she rose to the top to be crowned the first ever Queen of the Castle.

The children’s author, podcaster and vlogger (what modern job titles) seemed mildly obsessed with knickers at the start of her stint but that was probably just nerves. And perhaps mild irritation at everyone mispronouncing her name.

Giovanna soon grew into the show and became a vital part of the group. Frankly, we could have done without the 35-year-old constantly defining herself solely as a mother but “Mama G” still became the camp matriarch, always on hand with a consoling hug or shoulder to cry on. She was sweet-natured, kind, upbeat and endearingly food-fixated.

It looked throughout most of this final like Jordan North was destined to win but Giovanna has a sizeable social media following, not to mention the backing of boyband McFly's fans. They clearly mobilised and propelled her to victory. There were a few online grumblings about how few trials she did compared to the other finalists - had she really earned her victory? - but that doesn't matter now.

She was previously best known as the wife of McFly’s Tom Fletcher, sister of TOWIE star Mario Falcone and pal of Kate Middleton. Now Giovanna has made herself a star in her own right. Don’t be surprised to see more of her on our screens soon. A sort of Holly Willoughby-esque everywoman role beckons.

Giovanna's final eating trial
Giovanna's final eating trial

Runner-up Jordan North went on the biggest journey

Radio 1 DJ Jordan North began the series vomiting with fear over the cliff-abseiling challenge and screaming at snakes. He ended it as runner-up and many people's champion.

The 30-year-old came from nowhere to become the breakout star of the series, alongside Giovanna Fletcher. His infectious personality, many phobias and hilarious reactions to trials meant he was repeatedly nominated by viewers to undertake them. Slowly but surely, Jordan grew in confidence and conquered his fears - of heights, of snakes, of confined spaces.

His “happy place” started off as Burnley FC’s home ground Turf Moor and ended up as “drinking gin in Spain with Beverley Callard”. This I'm A Celebrity superfan hoped to reach the middle of the series but went all the way and came within a whisker of winning.

There was something sweetly child-like about Jordan and he seemed to grow up before viewer’s eyes. Not completely though, as his menu choices for the last supper demonstrated: crowned beef hash, jelly and Angel delight for pud and peanut butter cups for a treat. It was like the birthday tea of an Eighties schoolboy.

Still, Jordan’s been on that textbook reality TV journey™ and was proud of how much he'd blossomed. "I feel like a new person," he grinned in his exit interview. He went from wide-eyed ingenue (who once worked as a runner for campmate Victoria Derbyshire) to fully fledged, fleshed-out star. He’s often unflatteringly called “Radio 1’s supply teacher”, forever filling in for absent hosts. Expect him to get his own gigs from now on.

Jordan at the finalists' last supper
Jordan at the finalists' last supper

Third-placed Vernon Kay turned his image around

TV presenter Vernon Kay finished in third spot and successfully rehabilitated his reputation with his stint in the castle. The 46-year-old Boltonian beanpole might just have revived his primetime career in the process.

Having been a regular face on ITV for a decade, he’s rather fell out of favour in recent years. Big Vern has lately been relegated to Radio X and Formula E racing. He also got negative press coverage after being caught “sexting” Page Three model Rhian Sugden, nearly ending his marriage to Strictly’s Tess Daly.

However, he proved an excellent campmate: witty, warm, curious, chivalrous to the women and adept at banter with the blokes. He bore the trials with fortitude and became a sort of chirpy big brother figure, generous with praise and quick to help anyone in need.

Kay was reportedly the second highest earner this series behind Olympic hero Mo Farah, trousering £250,000 for his three-week stint. He’s been decent value for it. ITV execs might just start answering his calls again.

Vernon toasts his fellow finalists
Vernon toasts his fellow finalists

Boring-but-nice series was what nation needed

Admittedly, this wasn’t the most eventful run of the jungle survival franchise. There were no camp romances. Nobody fainted (or pretended to, cough “Doctor” Gillian McKeith splutter). There were no real bust-ups, bar the odd squabble about the washing-up or identity of “the Phantom Dribbler”.

Instead the campmates all rubbed along pleasingly. There were firm friendships, camaraderie and team spirit. They were supportive, soppy and sweetly fond of one another. They had heart-to-hearts, sing-songs and dance lessons. It lacked a little grit in the oyster but ultimately, in this feverish year, it was a victory for uncomplicated, wholesome kindness.

It was more nicey-nicey Bake Off than screamy-steamy Big Brother. Comforting communal viewing and a pleasure to watch, if not always thrillingly dramatic.

Ant and Dec gave another presenting masterclass

Cheeky Geordie chipmunks Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly might have been hosting this show since 2002 but they showed no signs of being jaded. Nor even mild disgruntlement that they weren’t basking in five-star, sun-soaked, golfing Gold Coast luxury this time. Instead they were holed up in a plush-but-cosy £1000-per-week holiday cottage.

This is traditionally one of the ubiquitous ITV duo’s favourite gigs of the year and it was no different in the new staycation location. They were clearly having enormous fun and it was infectious. Their links were as well-honed and witty as ever. Their glee during the more challenging trials was palpable. They poked fun at the celebrities, the crew and each other. They kept us laughing from the series launch to the grand final.

They may have swapped polo shirts for “shackets” but their cheery charm was undimmed. There’s a reason why they’re so highly paid and award-garlanded - because they're the best in the business.

Presenting duo Ant and Dec
Presenting duo Ant and Dec

Males dominated to detriment of series

Until the final result, this series became something of a lads’ club. A stag do. A sausage party. Whatever you call it, this was a shame.

The first four evicted campmates were all female. There was only one woman among the final six. It felt unjust that some of the less interesting men (notably AJ Pritchard and, dare we say it, Mo Farah) went so deep into the contest, whereas the likes of Victoria Derbyshire and Beverley Callard departed too soon.

Still, gender balance was restored right at the end. Giovanna Fletcher became the second consecutive female winner, succeeding Jacqueline Jossa, and the fifth in six years. Whether it's jungle or castle, women have been coming out on top.

Will series return to Australia or stay in Wales?

This run’s resounding ratings success has left ITV open to the idea of sticking with its new Welsh setting next year, according to showrunner Richard Cowles. A decision won't be made until well into 2021. Much depends on how the pandemic pans out and whether international travel gets back to normal.

The new location - atmospheric 19th-century Gothic folly Gwrych Castle, beautifully dressed and lit by the production team - looked great. The local countryside, when we saw it, was rugged and equally ravishing. Replacing shopkeeper Kiosk Kev with his “long lost Welsh cousin” Kiosk Cledwyn worked well. The home-grown setting also enabled a more wintry, festive feel - witness the previous night’s Santa’s grotto task with elf outfits.

Under the circumstances, the castle-set series was a triumph. However, the jungle camp is the show’s USP. The local lingo and native wildlife are a key part of its humour, as well as its infamous Bushtucker Trials. It’s what separates I’m A Celebrity from a Bear Grylls survival series or daytime antiques hunt. It also attracts a higher-calibre of celebrity - international names, as well as those more tempted by three weeks in the tropical sun than a draughty Welsh castle.

At times, with its chilly climes and red fleece gilets, this series resembled a drizzly Duke of Edinburgh Award weekend in the Brecon Beacons, rather than a escapist survival series. Wales has worked well as a stopgap but we’d like to see normal service resumed next year.

10:57 PM

Grand final in full

Here’s your rewind of the climactic castle action as it happened...

10:33 PM

The 20th series comes to a close

As the credits roll for the final time this year, don’t go anywhere just yet. Please stay with us for talking points, analysis and social media reaction…

10:33 PM

That was a slight surprise in the end

It looked like it was going Jordan's way but Mama G clinched it. She gets a floral crown and sits on the throne.

10:30 PM

Giovanna is Queen of the Castle

More than 12m votes have been cast and counted. Drum roll. Dramatic pause. Giovanna Fletcher is announced as the winner of the first-ever UK-based series, with Jordan North in second place. 

10:28 PM

The big decision

Viewers have been voting. Phonelines have been copiously plugged. Slightly too many ad breaks have built tension.

Now it’s finally time to find out the result...

10:23 PM

Jordan feels like the winner

Ant and Dec are talking to him like he's the winner. But is he the winner? Not long now. 

10:20 PM

Jordan has changed

She barely resembles the cornrowed figure who struck up a jungle romance with Peter "Insania" André in series three... I've got the wrong Jordan, haven't I?  

10:12 PM

Giovanna and Jordan's exit interview

Before the result is announced, the final two talk to the Geordie two. 

10:11 PM

King or Queen soon to be crowned

Not long until we find out who'll be the show's first castle monarch.

My heart says Jordan North.

My head says that Giovanna Fletcher, with her big social media following (1.3m followers on Instagram alone) and the McFly fanbase behind her, might edge it. Tense. Tight. Welsh.

10:04 PM

The last supper

We hop back in time to when Giovanna, Jordan and Vernon all sat down for a final meal together. They’ve all ordered their favourite food and are cock-a-hoop to get off the rice and beans.

Giovanna has bruschetta, fish and chips, apple crumble with custard, red wine and chocolate.

Vernon has prawn cocktail, chicken with sweet potato mash, treacle sponge, a cup of Yorkshire tea and sourdough bread with Marmite and cottage cheese. Riiiight. Curveball at the end there. 

Jordan has prawn cocktail, corned beef hash, jelly with Angel Delight, Guinness and peanut butter cups. The great big overgrown kid. 

Jordan and his dessert

10:02 PM

Put the kettle on, Tess

Vernon Kay is a celebrity and he gets himself out of there. And then there were two...

09:59 PM

Tesco were quick off the mark

The supermarket chain has already snapped up the eliminated celebrties for an ad campaign. A slight upgrade from the Iceland days, with Kerry Katona's prawn ring and beef garland. 

09:57 PM

Vernon's exit interview

Third-placed Vernon Kay sits down for his pow-wow with the two jolly Geordie gnomes. He describes the experience as "awesome", seems delighted to come third and pays tribute to Shane Ritchie's aromatic night-time "bum trumpetings".

Third-placed Vernon Kay

09:50 PM

Vernon comes in third place

Boltonian beanpole Vernon Kay is announced as this year’s bronze medallist. Which means it’s between Giovanna Fletcher and Jordan North for the title.

09:47 PM

Series highlights rewound

Chopper arrivals! Jordan's clifftop chunder! Washing-up squabbles! Zinfannydel! Bat Putcher! The evicted celebrities being inteviewed in a plush beige hotel suite, trying not to look too smug! 

09:38 PM

50 snakes in with Jordan now

He's conquered his fears brilliantly this series. "This is hell. It's like being at Ewood Park," he says. Home ground of Burnley's local rivals Blackburn Rovers, in case you didn't know. 

I'd tell you what they chant at each other but the Telegraph website might crash. 

09:35 PM

Snakey smalltalk

Jordan keeps the snakes off his mind by making chit-chat with Ant and Dec. They discuss Christmas, their careers and Jordan's mum letting him stay up late to vote for Kerry Katona in the 2004 series.

Sweet. He really is a superfan.

09:33 PM

What no Turf Moor?

Thinking about Burnley FC’s home ground clearly doesn’t do the trick any more. This time, Jordan’s happy place is “drinking gin with Bev in Spain.” Mixed by Megashag John, obviously. 

09:31 PM

Jordan’s Iron Maiden

And no, we don't mean his collection of heavy metal LPs.

To provide desserts for the final dinner, Jordan North is locked inside a cage for 10 minutes as snakes join him. And we all know how much he loves those slithery fellows. 

Jordan suffers the snakes

09:28 PM

Bull's penis to round things off

The edible horrors just keep coming, as do the gags from Ant and Dec, but Giovanna manages to successfully complete the trial. Attagirl.

09:27 PM

Baaaaaaarmy

Sheep's testicle is next on the menu. It looks like a potato but smells "lamby". Giovanna takes her time. It's all about chew, baby. 

Giovanna bites into a sheep's testicle

09:25 PM

Scale of the century

Fish eye is fishy. Who knew?

09:25 PM

Moooooving on

Cow's nose is beefy but surprisingly tough, apparently. 

09:23 PM

Dec’s words of “wisdom”

First up is the fermented duck egg (with no soldiers), to which co-host Declan Donnelly says: “I’ve done this. I’m so sorry, it’s quite bad.” Yeah, cheers for that, Mr Motivator. 

09:22 PM

Yum yum, pig’s bum

That used to be one of Len Goodman’s many catchphrases on Strictly and it’s not far off.

Giovanna Fletcher has to eat fermented duck egg, a cow’s nose, raw fish eye, sheep’s testicle and bull’s penis.

09:17 PM

Giovanna’s frightening feast

And no, we don’t mean Tom from McFly’s midweek “tuna pasta bake”. She’s trying to win the main courses. No pressure, Mama G.

09:15 PM

Five stars achieved

Vernon successfully endured 10 minutes. “That is the most horrific thing I’ve ever done in my entire life,” he says. Is he forgetting about the second series of Splash!?

09:14 PM

Jingle bells, jingle all the way

Vernon sings Christmas songs. Festive. Well, if it wasn't for the 40 scorpions on his face. 

Vernon and the scorpion spiders

09:12 PM

"You can hiss off"

That's what Vernon tells the hissing cockroaches. Millipedes and mealworms arrive, just to make it a party. 

Vernon covered in critters

09:11 PM

Go on, big Vern

Things didn’t get off to a great start with Vernon flinching from the horrendous smell of rotten fruit & veg poured onto him: “Oh my gosh, that’s disgusting, that stinks! Smells like Shane.” Even Ant and Dec look a bit bilious.

This was soon followed by a collection of various critters placed all over his body. Meanwhile, they distract themselves by skatting and debating the identity of the castle privy's Phantom Dribbler.

Ant and Dec

09:09 PM

Vernon’s table of torment

And no, we don’t mean the atmosphere at the breakfast table with Tess Daly after he’s been a naughty boy. “Sir Lanky-lot” is taking on the Table of Torment trial to try and win starters.

He must lie flat, shackled on a table, for 10 minutes as nasties are placed on him.  For every two minutes he endures, he wins a star for camp - the first three stars for starters, the fourth for a drink and the fifth star for a treat of his choice.

09:08 PM

Trials for courses

Makes a chance from horse for courses. As is traditional, the final three will each tackle one last trial apiece, trying to win courses, drinks and treats for the final three-course dinner.

09:08 PM

Rewind of Shane's exit

They all really did think Shane Ritchie was going to win. Including Shane.

Vernon Kay gets a bit soppily weepy talking to camera in the Bush Telegraph. He tells Tess Daly he loves her and hopes their daughters are proud. Aww. When is their bedtime? Sixteen-year-old Phoebe should be fine but hopefully 11-year-old Amber has been given permission to stay up late. 

09:04 PM

Greetings, Ant and Dec

They've swapped their shackets for blazers. Big occasion. Big cheque. 

09:03 PM

Roll title sequence

Jungle drums! Turrets jutting from the treetops! Final look at our 12 castle contestants! Which ones have you completely forgotten already? Don’t say all of them, it’s not allowed. 

09:02 PM

And we’re off!

Cue tension-building montage about our final three. Brought to you in association with Red Gilet Inc.

08:55 PM

Did AJ and Shane have beef?

There was a bit of tension between Shane Ritchie and AJ Pritchard at times, mainly about the washing-up. Always a flashpoint in every household. Whoever was running AJ's Twitter account in his absence also called the other celebs “fake”. Ah, to be a fly on the wall at the wrap party.

Five minutes now until we go live to North Wales…

08:50 PM

Shane sent packing last night

EastEnders alumnus and former Daz Doorstep Challenger Shane Ritchie clearly wanted to be the BGOC (big guy of castle). He wise-cracked endlessly, he dominated alpha male-style, he got the hump when he wasn’t the centre of attention. 

Frankly, his cheeky chappie charms began to wear threadbare-thin and I was pleased to see him fall at the last hurdle on Thursday night, leaving a well-deserved final three. But from the look on their faces, I reckon they thought Shane was going to win - as did the class clown himself. 

It's 10 minutes until showtime….

08:45 PM

Record ratings for staycation series

Last series averaged an impressive 10.6m viewers, peaking at 13m for the launch show. With the nation under a second lockdown, ITV execs were hoping for even higher figures this year and they seem to have got them.

The launch show got a consolidated figure of 14.2m viewers, with subsequent episodes averaging 12m, making it the most-watched non-news programme of 2020. Every cloud and all that. 

Fifteen minutes until that jungle drum theme tune…

08:38 PM

Who’ll become King or Queen of the Castle?

And will that mean they qualify to be controversially portrayed by an A-list actress with a dodgy accent in Netflix’s The Crown? 

Good evening and welcome to our I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! liveblog. It’s Friday night, it's time for the 20th grand final and it’s castle o’clock at 9pm on ITV. 

Yes, after 21 days in the survival contest’s new staycation location of Gwrych Castle, near Abergele on the Conwy coast, just three campmates remain.

Last night’s penultimate show saw the fantastic four semi-finalists take part in the famed Celebrity Cyclone challenge before one was eliminated agonisingly short of the final. It turned out to be a surprise eviction for Shane Ritchie, leaving us with a final trio of Jordan North, Vernon Kay and Giovanna Fletcher. 

But who will succeed EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa as champion and be crowned the contest’s first ever King or Queen of the Castle?

We'll be liveblogging from 8.40pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, recaps and analysis, so please watch along with us. Please join in too - you can email me on michael.hogan@ telegraph.co.uk, tweet me on @michaelhogan or leave comments at the bottom of this blog. I'll keep an eye on them all and report the highlights here. 

Nearly time for testicle-munching and monarch-crowning…