I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Martin Kemp has received an enthusiastic endorsement from a former jungle resident, James Haskell, who is tipping the Spandau Ballet legend for the crown in the 2025 series (Entertainment Daily).

Haskell, a former England Rugby Union player who competed in the 2019 series, shared his prediction exclusively with Entertainment Daily just ahead of the launch show on November 16.

The Backing and the Betting Odds

Speaking on behalf of Heart Bingo, Haskell praised the 64-year-old musician and actor:

“I think Martin, if you were looking at it initially, could be someone who’s like a safe pair of hands around the camp really. Someone like Martin, I think, he seems quite game, seems quite fun” (Entertainment Daily).

This prediction aligns with initial public interest, though betting odds have shifted quickly:

• Initial Favouritism: When the lineup was confirmed, bookmakers like William Hill immediately made Kemp the favourite to win at 4/1 odds, ahead of YouTuber Angry Ginge at 9/2 (William Hill).¹

• Current Odds Shift: Following the launch, the dynamic changed rapidly, and Kemp's odds have softened.² He is now generally ranked lower in the market, priced between 9/1 and 16/1, with Angry Ginge becoming the clear early favourite at around 5/2 (SportsCasting, Oddschecker).

• Other Notable Favourites: Ex-England footballer Alex Scott and rapper Aitch are also considered strong contenders, with their odds hovering around 6/1 to 7/1 (William Hill).³

Haskell also mentioned that actress Lisa Riley "looks like someone that will be able to get into it," but concluded that predicting the winner this early is difficult, stating: "The thing is, you can never tell too early on who’s gonna really be the shining light" (Entertainment Daily).

Haskell’s Jungle Experience and the I’m A Celeb 2019 Series

James Haskell took part in the 19th series of the show in 2019, eventually becoming the fourth contestant to be eliminated on Day 17 (Wikipedia).⁴ The series was ultimately won by actress Jacqueline Jossa, with Coronation Street actor Andy Whyment finishing as runner-up and Kemp’s son, Capital FM presenter Roman Kemp, coming in third place (Wikipedia).⁵

Haskell confessed that his least favourite aspects of camp life were the hygiene and the critters:

• The Dunny: He described the camp toilet as "pretty rank" and said having to empty it was "not nice either" (Entertainment Daily).

• Creepy Crawlies: He recounted waking up one morning with a leech attached to his arm (Entertainment Daily).

Despite the struggles—including admitting he "really struggled" with the limited calorie intake of the jungle diet, which caused his body to "start to shut down" (Radio Times)—Haskell stated he would "definitely" consider returning for an All Stars spin-off if asked.

Family Connections

The rugby star also commented on the possibility of his former in-laws joining the jungle:

• Chloe Madeley (Ex-Wife): He believes Chloe "would be great at it" but noted she might find being away from home "really hard" (Entertainment Daily).

• Judy Finnigan (Ex-Mother-in-Law): Haskell does not think Judy would be interested in taking part.

Martin Kemp's participation means he is the second member of the Kemp family to enter the jungle, following his son Roman’s popular third-place finish in 2019 (LADbible).⁶

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