I’m A Celebrity winner Sam Thompson in emotional airport reunion with Zara McDermott

The couple looked delighted to be back in each other’s arms after a month apart

Tina Campbell13 December 2023

Sam Thompson and girlfriend Zara McDermott enjoyed an emotional reunion following his I’m A Celebrity win.

Strictly Come Dancing star McDermott had previous commitments, so couldn’t meet him at the bridge in Australia after almost a month apart.

She was right there waiting, though, as his flight touched back down in the UK and the pair enjoyed a passionate embrace.

New pictures captured at London’s Heathrow Airport on Wednesday afternoon show the moment Thompson and McDermott were finally reunited.

Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott looked delighted to be back in each other's arms

Ex The Only Way Is Essex favourite Pete Wicks was also on the flight having jetted half way across the world to support best friend Thompson in McDermott’s place.

Not showing any sign of jet lag, the trio could be seen sharing a laugh as Wicks held on to a bunch of brightly coloured balloons.

Thompson was crowned the latest King of the Jungle after winning over a legion of new fans on the ITV reality TV show, which saw 12 celebrities head into the Australian jungle to rough it for three weeks.

Sam Thompson's best friend Pete Wicks was also pictured returning to the UK

The ex Made In Chelsea star impressed as he took part in a number of gruelling challenges, including the cyclone obstacle course and ate items including a pig’s vagina and a camel’s penis for his last bushtucker trial. He eventually triumphed after securing 56.6 per cent of the vote with former professional boxer Tony Bellew coming second with 43.4 per cent, while former Ukip leader Nigel Farage took third place.

Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine on Monday, he revealed that his time in the jungle was “one of the happiest” times of his life.

He said: “It’s pretty easy to sort of be happy in there because I’ve been a fan of it for so long and, I know this sound really cringy, when you’re in there with proper celebrities like world champion boxers, world champion jockeys, you’ve got singers, you’ve got actors, it’s the coolest thing in the world.

“And because I’ve watched the show for so many years and then being around all these people and they can’t leave, they have to be there, they can’t go anywhere.

“It’s a very easy place to be happy. I think I was one of the happiest I’ve ever been in that jungle.”