Joe Swash has revealed that I’m A Celebrity has a’special place in his heart’… I Need to Get Out of Here! on the show, he met his now-wife Stacey Solomon.
The 41-year-old first competed in the bushtucker trials in 2008, when he was named King of the Jungle.
He’s now taking on Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly’s challenges once more, as viewers will watch Joe and none other than EastEnders star Dean Gaffney enter the jungle in just hours.
Joe joined the show’s presenting crew in 2009, and he began dating his now-wife Stacey.
Joe has opened out on what the show means to them both after they had three children together and married last year, following such a special start to their relationship.
He said: ‘I’m A Celebrity holds a big place in my heart.
‘I won it and I was lucky enough to go on to present the spin-off series on ITV2 for 10 years.
‘I met Stacey whilst I was out in Australia and me and Stacey have now married and we have had kids. Doing the all-stars series is closure. It finishes off the circle.’
Joe added that Stacey was ‘over the moon’ about him going back, saying: ‘The jungle holds a big part in both our hearts.
‘Without the jungle, we wouldn’t have each other. In a way, we owe it to the jungle to say goodbye.’
Joe added: ‘Of course it would be amazing to be crowned the champion.
‘But I am mainly doing this programme to say thank you to the jungle and put a full stop at the end of the journey.
‘My eldest son, Harry, was one when I did the jungle and he is 16 now! I want the kids to watch I’m A Celebrity… South Africa and for both of us to be able to tell them “I’m A Celebrity is where mummy and daddy met”.
‘The jungle is always going to be a big part of our family.’
Joe and Stacey welcomed son Rex, three, in 2019, before welcoming daughter Rose in October 2021 and baby Belle in February of this year.
Stacey has two boys from past relationships: Zachary, 14, and Leighton, 10, while Joe has a son from a former relationship, Harry, 16.
Joe and Stacey, 33, married in July in a small ceremony at their Essex home, which they have christened Pickle Cottage.
Later reflecting on the special day, Joe said: ‘I just felt so lucky that day. I was marrying the most amazing woman, we’ve got the most amazing family.
‘I look back and think it’s been a journey and I’m so lucky to be where I am now. I just felt so blessed on the day.’
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa returns tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
