EXCLUSIVEKing of the Jungle Sam Thompson gives I’m A Celeb camp tour and reveals he was left ‘hyperventilating’ after suffering a panic attack

Reigning King of the Jungle, Sam Thompson, gave an exclusive tour of the I’m A Celeb camp on Wednesday ahead of the 2024 series launch episode. 

Capturing the nation with his boundless energy and positivity, Sam has landed a role hosting this year’s ITV2 spin-off series I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked alongside Joel Dommett and Kemi Rodgers.

Taking MailOnline on a tour of inside the camp, Sam started at the iconic camp fire, where all the ‘bonding’ happens and the majority of the show is filmed. 

He then showed a completely new, more luxurious area of camp called the ‘leaders lodge’, next to the red telephone box. 

Inside the small wooden cabin is two single beds and two rocking chairs, with Sam sharing: ‘having a back to a chair in the jungle is like gold dust’

Reigning King of the Jungle, Sam Thompson , gave an exclusive tour of the I'm A Celeb camp on Wednesday ahead of the 2024 series launch episode

Reigning King of the Jungle, Sam Thompson , gave an exclusive tour of the I’m A Celeb camp on Wednesday ahead of the 2024 series launch episode

Taking MailOnline on a tour of inside the camp, Sam started at the iconic camp fire, where all the 'bonding' happens and the majority of the show is filmed

Taking MailOnline on a tour of inside the camp, Sam started at the iconic camp fire, where all the ‘bonding’ happens and the majority of the show is filmed

Sam also revealed he suffered a panic attack on his first day in the I’m a Celebrity camp.

Despite going on to win the ITV show, the reality star, 32, detailed how the pressure he felt on the first day as a contestant led to him, ‘hyperventilating’.

Read MoreEXCLUSIVE I’m A Celeb King Of The Jungle Sam Thompson arrives in Australia after chaotic flight article image

The former Made in Chelsea star said: ‘I actually had a panic attack on my first day here. I’ve been a fan of the show for 20 years and I remember sitting on the living room floor watching the show with my parents.

‘But then when I got here it was like Jumanji. I had a panic attack because I couldn’t believe I was actually here. 

‘I thought maybe I’m way out of my depth and I’m better as a viewer and I started hyperventilating.’

Sam revealed his tips for winning the series and warned that each year a few contestants come in with a game plan.

He said: ‘You get found out immediately if you have a game plan. You cannot have one in a place like this, you have to be yourself.

‘There are people who come in here, who are like, “If I do this, or I do that, or maybe if I get one of the trials I can do this and get airtime,” it goes straight out the window as soon as they get here you get found out instantly.

Sam also revealed he suffered a panic attack on his first day in the I'm a Celebrity camp

Sam also revealed he suffered a panic attack on his first day in the I’m a Celebrity camp

He showed a completely new, more luxurious area of camp called the 'leaders lodge', next to the red telephone box

He showed a completely new, more luxurious area of camp called the ‘leaders lodge’, next to the red telephone box

Despite going on to win the ITV show, the reality star, 32, detailed how the pressure he felt on the first day as a contestant led to him, 'hyperventilating'

Despite going on to win the ITV show, the reality star, 32, detailed how the pressure he felt on the first day as a contestant led to him, ‘hyperventilating’

He said: 'I had a panic attack because I couldn't believe I was actually here. 'I thought maybe I'm way out of my depth and I'm better as a viewer and I started hyperventilating'

He said: ‘I had a panic attack because I couldn’t believe I was actually here. ‘I thought maybe I’m way out of my depth and I’m better as a viewer and I started hyperventilating’

Sam revealed his tips for winning the series and warned that each year a few contestants come in with a game plan (pictured with Tony Bellew)

Sam revealed his tips for winning the series and warned that each year a few contestants come in with a game plan (pictured with Tony Bellew) 

‘I would say to anyone who’s going to go far, it will be the person who lives the experience.’

Sam, who has been dating Strictly’s Zara McDermott for five years, praised the strong female line-up this year and said it will be a Queen to be crowned this series.

Confirmed as going in the Jungle are the likes of Wagatha Christie’s Coleen Rooney and NDubz’s Tulisa Contostavlos with Love Island’s Maura Higgins tipped as a late arrival.

It comes after Sam also admitted he rushed straight to the doctors after securing his new role on the I’m A Celebrity spin off show.

However, the star explained that before catching his flight to Australia he visited the doctor to to request some sleeping pills to aid the chaotic scheduling due to the time difference between Australia and the UK. 

Leading this year's contestants is Coleen Rooney , who has ditched her WAG glamour for the famous jungle get-up as this year's highest-paid signing She will be joined by big names such as Tulisa Contostavlos, who didn't shy away from the chance to show off her abs in a blue crop top

Leading this year’s contestants is Coleen Rooney , who has ditched her WAG glamour for the famous jungle get-up as this year’s highest-paid signing

I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked will be filmed in UK time meaning he will be going to bed at 4pm and waking up at midnight to start work. 

Speaking on his podcast Staying Relevant with Pete Wicks, Sam explained: ‘The timings are quite awkward because obviously we are live in UK time. So we go to bed at 4pm every day in Australia and wake up at midnight. Which is going to be wild.’

Pete added: ‘You don’t cope well with change and what Sam said to me when he told me this last week is “I’ve just been to the doctor and I’ve got 24 sleeping pills”.’

He continued: ‘That was the first thing you did, he literally came out of the meeting with ITV or off the phone and went straight to the doctor and said “I need pills”.’

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