I’m A Celeb’s unlikely star Sam Thompson set to be ‘multi-millionaire by 35’ with TV deals and ‘power couple’ status
HE went into I’m a Celebrity as the underdog - but now Sam Thompson looks set to walk away with the Jungle crown.
The star is the fans and bookies' favourite and was named by every one of his campmates as their chosen winner.
Victory will mean a huge career boost for the 31-year-old, who is set to cash in on his raised profile with a series of brand deals and TV offers.
He has already announced plans to take Staying Relevant, his podcast with pal Pete Wicks, on tour next year, but TV companies will now be queuing to sign him up, with ITV reportedly eyeing a partnership with campmate Tony Bellew.
Sam and Strictly's Zara McDermott, his girlfriend of four years whose own star is on the ascent, could also become TV’s latest power couple.
“Sam Thompson is THE stand out star of the jungle and I think he will be the big winner in career and money stakes, too,” brand and culture expert Nick Ede tells The Sun.
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“His likeable nature, kindness and openness about his relationship and his ADHD have secured him a place in the hearts of the nation and he’s well on his way to national treasure status.
“I can see Sam and Zara becoming a power couple that the nation loves.
“Sam is the perfect package for TV and brands and he will be a multi-millionaire by the time he's 35!”
Previous I'm A Celeb winners, including Harry Redknapp, Giovanna Fletcher and Stacey Solomon, have landed lucrative deals with well-known brands after leaving the Jungle.
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Harry’s love of stodgy puddings saw him cast in a now infamous Jam Roly Poly advert for GoDaddy, and he was reportedly paid a six-figure sum to become the face of the McDonald’s ads with son Jamie.
Stacey, who won in 2010, landed an Iceland advert; Vicky Pattison launched fashion lines with Pour Moi and and LRM, and Giovanna has cashed in with collaborations with candle company SevenSeventeen, Avon and Disney.
Sam, who has two million followers on Instagram, will be in demand from brands eager to harness his newfound popularity.
“Sam will land some big money jobs on adverts and brand campaigns,” says Nick.
“He’s got a great physique so I can imagine a gym clothing brand would love him as their ambassador.”
TV deals
TV companies are always looking for the next big thing and have snapped up previous winners for game shows, reality TV and presenter roles.
Stacey and Vicky both went on to Extra Camp, the I’m A Celeb spin-off show, and landed regular stints on Loose Women.
Last year’s winner Jill Scott picked up numerous punditry roles while Scarlett Moffatt’s jungle stint, in 2016, landed her various shows including Scarlett’s Driving School.
Sports fan Sam - who already has a huge following for his podcast with Pete - has struck up a new bromance with campmate Tony Bellew, and ITV bosses are said to be eyeing the pair up for a spin-off show.
"What started off as annoyance is clearly now morphing into something more brotherly and it makes for great telly," a source said.
But Sam and former Love Island star Zara have a ready-made dynamic which has already won over viewers of Made in Chelsea.
“I can see him landing his own reality show with Zara, similar to Billie and Sam Faiers on ITVBe,” says Nick.
“I can see him stepping away from the MIC days and doing his own thing with Zara.
"With ITVX being a global streaming platform and MIC and Love Island being huge TV shows worldwide, I can see their appeal becoming much bigger and them getting international jobs, too.
“Sam, I think, will also be a quiz regular, popping up on shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats, House of Games and other celebrity shows - he’s a dream booking and his star will continue to rise.
“As a power couple, Sam and Zara will be competing with the likes of Vogue Williams and ex-MIC star Spencer Matthews and Marvin and Rochelle Humes.
"I can see them also fronting their own podcast series as well as his highly successful one with Pete Wicks.
“They will also get presenting jobs together, perhaps hosting slots on This Morning or Lorraine, with their likeable humour and personalities.
“Sam has the likeability factor which allows him to appeal across many generations and demographics."
Getting serious
The Jungle chats can often reveal a lot about the celebrities’ private battles, and many have gone on to make documentaries highlighting causes close to their hearts.
Scarlett Moffatt Investigates tackled subjects including Tourettes, while Vicky Pattinson fronted Alcohol, Dad and Me.
Although he’s become known for his bouncy, puppy-like personality on I’m A Celeb, Sam has shown his serious side on TV in the past.
Nick believes his discussions with campmates on his late diagnosis of ADHD indicate he will use his platform to raise awareness.
He has already fronted a documentary on the condition and could now join Zara, who has a series of hard hitting investigative programmes under her belt, as a filmmaker.
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“I think Sam will make more documentaries on mental health and I can see him fronting charity awareness campaigns on ADHD too," Nick says.
“Because Sam has been so open about his ADHD, autism and Tic syndrome, I think he will continue his work to help children accept their differences and also help those with late diagnosis too. As a role model, he can really help many.”
