Ant & Dec choose I'm a Celebrity's top couples

Ant & Dec choose I'm a Celebrity's top couples
Ant & Dec choose I'm a Celebrity's top couples (Image credit: NIGEL WRIGHT)

As they prepare for the 10th series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Ant & Dec tell TV Times about their favourite couples to have camped out Down Under... Darren Day & Tara Palmer Tomkinson (Series one) Dec: "This was the first relationship that hooked everyone in and got the whole nation talking. It was the first of it's kind on a reality show and was very intriguing to watch." Ant: "During series one no one knew what was going to happen, and no one expected there to be a romance. Their romance really set the series up for the next nine years!" Katie Price & Peter Andre (Series three) Ant: "Possibly the biggest romance to come out of a reality show full stop, as of course they went on to get married and have children together. It was compulsive viewing which had the audience and us on the edge of our seats!" Dec: "It's such a funny atmosphere in camp, living on top of one another, so if there is romance then it can be blown up. However, this certainly wasn't that, it was very real. I still remember watching the footage of Peter Andre sneaking out of bed. We could all see how excited he was!" Ant: "This relationship was when I'm A Celebrity hit brand new heights! Katie looked great in a bikini and Peter was a great source of entertainment and comedy". Paul Burrell & Janet Street-Porter (Series four) Dec: "Not so much a love-hate story, more of a hate-hate story! In contrast to the others they were more like a old married couple. Paul-baiting was a sport to her, every day was something else to moan about! He put up with it, and took it in like a sponge, which annoyed her even more." Ant: "Paul makes the list because of his 'Hell Holes' alone. That was the first time we openly laughed at a trial. It was a high point of my life. The whole crew was laughing, tears were even coming down the cameraman's face!" David Gest & Matt Willis (Series six) Ant: "Our first ‘bromance’. David was incredible value. He had an amazing collection of stories, but we never thought he'd last". Dec: "Then he was there til nearly the end! Matt Willis was a great foil for him, he kept him going and Matt enjoyed being in his company." Janice Dickinson & Lynne Franks (Series seven) Ant: "A real hate relationship. They did not get on from the moment they saw each other." Dec: "They were arguing before they even got to camp! Janice would wind up Lynne and Lynne wouldn't stand for it. From minute one we knew it would be a great TV". Ant: "Opposites attract, but not his time. It was must-see viewing." Joe Swash & George Takei (Series eight) Dec: "Our second bromance, but a lot more touchy feely than the others! George would touch Joe a lot - even rubbing oil in his bum. They made a really lovely couple." Ant: "George idolised Joe. Even with the big age generation gap, they got on so well which was lovely to see. Joe was himself in camp - even now he still kisses everyone and is touchy feely with the crew on ITV2!" David Van Day & Timmy Mallet (Series eight) Ant: "These two caused mayhem in the jungle the moment they arrived! Right from the off David was the pantomime villain in his little red shorts. Dec:: "They were like the Chuckle Brothers. They had daft humour and got everyone's backs up in camp." Ant: "I still laugh about the fact they said they were a bit more sophisticated than us as a duo!" George Hamilton & Kim Woodburn (Series nine) Ant: "They were the mum and dad of the jungle. They shared the bus together, which would be tough on anyone as Kim's snoring was ridiculous!" Dec: "George was such a gentlemen - all the men and women loved him. I even saw one of the researchers tie up his shoe laces." Ant: "They were like a proper old married couple, Kim looked after George, it was very sweet."

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.