REVEREND RICHARD COLES

I’m A Celebrity stars Barry McGuigan and Maura Higgins were given quite the warm welcome on Thursday as they arrived back at the H๏τel in Surfers Paradise, Australia following their double elimination.

Boxer Barry, 63, had to act fast as his delighted former campmate, radio star Melvin Odoom, 44, leapt into his arms as he made his way into the H๏τel lobby.

Meanwhile, Love Island favourite Maura, 34, was offered a more graceful greeting as she shared a sweet embraced with Loose Women’s Jane Moore, 62.

Jane and Melvin were joined by fellow evicted campmate Dean McCullough, 32, in the lobby of the H๏τel, where they had waited alongside the celebrity’s friends and family to greet the evictees.

One notable absence was that of Tulisa Contostavlos, who snubbed the I’m A Celebrity final and has arrived back home in the UK a week early after becoming the third campmate to be voted off the show on Monday.

It’s custom for all the cast to be present at the show’s final to congratulate the final three contestants but it can be confirmed the NDubz star, 36, was not there as she has returned home to Manchester.

I’m A Celebrity stars Barry McGuigan and Maura Higgins were given quite the warm welcome on Thursday as they arrived back at the H๏τel in Surfers Paradise, Australia following their double elimination, with Melvin leaping into Barry’s arms

Meanwhile, Love Island favourite Maura, 34, was offered a more graceful greeting as she shared a sweet embraced with Loose Women’s Jane Moore, 62

It comes after the former X-Factor had a bust-up in the H๏τel after she was evicted from the show with her best friends, Michelle McKenna and her boyfriend, Daniel Johnson.

Despite her absence, her fellow I’m A Celebrity stars still managed to lay on a warm welcome for Maura and Barry as they made their way back to civilised society following weeks of jungle life. 

Maura looked delighted as she emerged out of her car and arrived to cheers and claps from the gathered crowd.

After hugging Jane, she was seen jumping into the arms of jungle pal Dean, before then sweetly hugging Melvin.

While Barry also looked on top form as he too warmly greeted his campmates in turn while being shown support by the other stars’ loved ones. 

It was a double eviction during Thursday’s episode after celebrities had the chance to win immunity and go straight through to the final and the famous Cyclone challenge in a new twist which debuted this series. 

After the contestants went head to head in Wednesday’s trial, winners Maura Higgins, Oti Mabuse, Coleen Rooney and Danny Jones battled it out for immunity in a final challenge at the Arcade of Agony. 

But it was Oti who was victorious as the dancer completed the Tetris like challenge in the quickest time and won the golden ticket. 

Jane and Melvin were joined by fellow evicted campmate Dean McCullough, 32, in the lobby of the H๏τel, where they had waited alongside the celebrity’s friends and family to greet the evictees

Jane and Dean looked fresh-faced and squeaky clean after weeks of slumming it in the jungle 

Maura looked delighted as she emerged out of her car and arrived to cheers and claps from the gathered crowd

Maura couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she emerged from her car

The Irish beauty was in a great mood as she arrived at the H๏τel

She shared a very warm embrace with Jane as Dean and Melvin watched on

Maura was delighted to see her campmates again

The rest of the crowd cheered and clapped upon Maura’s arrival

After hugging Jane, she was seen jumping into the arms of jungle pal Dean, before then sweetly hugging Melvin

The star was overjoyed following her exit

Meanwhile Melvin beamed as he finally got his hug with Maura

Read More Who left I’m A Celeb? Maura Higgins and Barry McGuigan are the latest contestants to be evicted

However the immunity twist has left the show embroiled in fix rows as fans took to Twitter to share their disappointment that they didn’t have full autonomy over the votes. 

They wrote: ‘Anyone else feeling like the Golden ticket to Cyclone has taken something away from us as the viewers? 

‘One of the biggest parts of this show is us voting to see our faves in this iconic trial. (No hate to Oti intended, love her. Just a thought and not that serious.)’;

‘This feels like a fix. I reckon Oti was low in the voting and she somehow had a ‘technique’ that helped her win?’;

‘For a bit, it felt like producers may have been trying to rig it for either Maura and Coleen to get through but didn’t expect Oti to be smarter at figuring it out’.

However others were overjoyed that Oti had won as they added: ‘I am so glad Oti won the golden ticket, she really deserves that’.

Meanwhile Maura was met by her friend Talia off the bridge because her ‘Mammy’ Sharon was unable to make the 22-hour flight Down Under.

A late arrival alongside the Reverend Richard Coles, 63, the pair struck up an unlikely friendship when they were tasked with being the ‘villains’ of the camp by staying in the luxury Jungle junkyard.

While Barry also looked on top form as he too warmly greeted his campmates in turn while being shown support by the other stars’ loved ones

The Boxing legend was cheered and clapped as he walked into the lobby and into the arms of his evicted campmates 

Barry was pulled into a тιԍнт hug by Jane as the others clapped

Dean got in on the action too as he welcomed Barry

Maura offered a friendly wave as she no doubt headed back to her room to get cleaned up

The Love Island star was certainly in great spirits after being the latest star to be booted from the jungle

Read MoreEXCLUSIVE Tulisa arrives back home to the UK in huge snub to the I’m A Celeb final

So entertaining is their partnership, that fans have since called for the pair to have their own television show when the Reverend comes out of the Jungle.

Admitting she had a ‘gut feeling’ she told Ant and Dec in her exit interview: ‘I’m really happy. I said it this morning it’s my time, I had a gut feeling and they’re never wrong.

‘I didn’t think I would embrace it as much as i have and I loved every single second. It’s mad how it changes you.’

Sharing her love for the Richard she revealed he is her winner as she continued: ‘I absolutely love Reverend Coles, he is so hilarious the things he comes out with shocks me and I don’t get shocked much’

The star added: ‘One thing I said when I came in was I do not want to say “I’m a Celebrity Ge tme out of here” and I still don’t know how I did that trial with spiders. I’m much tougher than I ever thought.’

Later on I’m A Celebrity Unpacked she joked: ‘I take the Lord’s name in vain quite a lot and of course I was put in there with a Reverend of all people, but we just clicked.’

Maura also admitted: ‘I missed my Mammy, I’ve just been on facetime with her.’

Maura Higgins and Barry McGuigan are the latest contestants to be evicted from the camp just days before the final as show becomes embroiled in ‘fix’ row following immunity twist

It was a double eviction during Thursday’s episode after celebrities had the chance to win immunity and go straight through to the final in a new twist which debuted this series

Oti Mabuse won immunity ahead of the final as she received a ‘golden ticket’ through to the Cyclone trial after battling it out with Coleen Rooney, Danny Jones and Maura Higgins 

Also eliminated, Barry was reunited with his wife of 40 years, Sandra, after two weeks in the Australian jungle as she met him off the bridge.

Speaking with hosts Ant and Dec he said: ‘I’m the original cyclone, so I’m disappointed that I’m not slipping and looking like a clown in it. 

‘The Jungle was much tougher than I expected, the food was the toughest part, everything tasted bland and ridiculous.’

The boxing legend also opened up on his sweet bond with McFly’s Danny Jones, as he added: ‘I think he’s going to be the King, he’s a great fella. We have a lot in common because my dad was a musician and I loved his creativity.’

I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP

OTI MABUSE  

Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt

AGE: 34

OCCUPATION: Professional dancer

FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020. 

DANNY JONES 

Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: McFly singer

FAMOUS FOR:  Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly. 

He is also a coach on The Voice UK. 

BARRY MCGUIGAN 

Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle

AGE: 63

OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer

FAMOUS FOR:  Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight тιтles from 1985 to 1986. 

GK BARRY

GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women

AGE: 25

OCCUPATION: TikTok star 

FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel. 

DEAN MCCULLOUGH 

ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp

AGE: 32

OCCUPATION:  Radio 1 DJ 

FAMOUS FOR:  Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views. 

Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.  

JANE MOORE  

Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Journalist

 FAMOUS FOR:  Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002. 

She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.

Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow. 

MELVIN ODOOM  

Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021

AGE: 44

OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter

FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.

He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.

COLEEN ROONEY 

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: WAG

FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.

ALAN HALSALL  

Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street

AGE: 42

OCCUPATION: Actor 

FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.

Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap. 

TULISA  

Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year

AGE: 36

OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge 

FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.

In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss. 

She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.  

REVEREND RICHARD COLES

Richard is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Writer, broadcaster and priest

FAMOUS FOR: Richard is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest. 

He first came to prominence as the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band the Communards.

 MAURA HIGGINS

Maura is best known for her stint on Love Island UK in 2019

 AGE: 33

OCCUPATION: TV Personality

FAMOUS FOR: Maura is an Irish television personality, television presenter and model. 

She rose to prominence in 2019, when she was a finalist on the fifth series of ITV2 reality series Love Island.