Joe Swash: 'I'd go back to the jungle in a shot'

Joe Swash: 'I'd go back to the jungle in a shot'
Joe Swash: 'I'd go back to the jungle in a shot' (Image credit: UK Press/Press Association Images)

Reigning King of the Jungle Joe Swash talks about his new role on I'm A Celebrity's spin-off show Get Me Out of Here Now! The new series is upon us – how are you feeling about giving up your crown? "Whoever gets it will thoroughly deserves it, because it is such hard work in there. So I don't mind giving up the crown at all." What were the best and worst parts of your time in the jungle? "It's just cool, you feel free again, you've got no burdens. It's really refreshing to get back to your roots – I loved it, it really respired me. But being away from your friends and family and not having any contact with them was tough, and time does drag in there a little bit. Apart from that it was an amazing experience." How did you find all the creepy crawlies and bugs? "I'm not brave but I’m not really scared of anything. I'm just a little bit scared of everything, so I was quite impressed with myself. I did alright, I didn't let myself down. Everytime I had a challenge I did give it my all." What would be your top tips for celebrities going in this year? “My top tip would just be enjoy yourself. Really just embrace it and enjoy it because it seems really hard while you're doing it, but the experiences you take away from it are amazing." Have you seen the line up? "No, they won't show me – they don't trust me with something like that! I can't wait to find out who's going to be in there." Who would be your dream contestant? "I've always said I'd like to see Ray Winstone in there and Laila Morse, who plays Big Mo. I don't think Eastenders would let her do it, but she'd be amazing." What have been your favourite celeb moments over the years? "I've got two. When Joe Pasquale had to go into the coffin with the rats and he was screaming and when Biggins cuddled the rat in the rat challenge. It was so sweet." Are you glad to be presenting rather than being a contestant this time? “Yeah, I'm looking forward to it because I never really got to see much of Australia when I came out of the jungle. I'm hoping for a different experience this time." What do you think you'll be like as a host? "I think I'll be cheeky and try and keep it a bit edgy. I’m going to try to tell it as it is without being horrible. I'm just going to try to be myself." Would you ever go back in as a contestant? “Yeah, I'd go back in a shot. I loved every second of it. I'm trying to get myself onto the American one as an English visitor." I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! returns on Sunday November 15 at 9pm on ITV1.

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.