Kerry Katona opens up about her triumphant 2004 victory on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, highlighting the lifelong friendships she built with Katie Price and Peter Andre during the jungle series.
Memories from the Jungle Triumph
Katona describes the show as the highlight of her career, a pivotal moment that launched an extraordinary path forward. She entered the competition with little prior knowledge, having never visited Australia before, and surprised everyone by winning despite expectations she might quit early.
“I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is the best TV show I’ve ever been a part of,” Katona states. “When opportunities like this came my way, it was such an adventure. It’s an incredible memory for me. I still tune in every year and feel a pang of envy when I watch it. I won it 22 years ago, which makes me feel quite ancient now.”
Nicknamed the “Warrington Winger” upon arrival, Katona faced skepticism but persevered. She recalls a grueling eating trial alongside Price, consuming cockroaches, mealworms, green ants, fish eyes, and witchetty grubs. “I didn’t actually participate in many challenges,” she adds. “I’m still baffled as to how I won it; I can’t fathom it. Even now, looking back, I don’t understand how I clinched that victory.”
Lifelong Friendships Forged
The series not only revitalized Katona’s career but also created enduring bonds. Price and Andre’s romance blossomed on screen, strengthening ties among the campmates. Katona expresses disappointment that her children have not witnessed those moments, as she stepped back from fame to focus on family.
“I formed lifelong friendships with Peter Andre and Katie Price,” Katona shares. “Katie is the love of my life. She receives so much negativity but picks herself up and carries on. Women need to lift each other up and straighten each other’s crowns rather than yank them down.”
Their shared experiences in the industry run deep. “It strengthened our friendship as well,” she continues. “She’s the most devoted mate in the world. There’s nobody else who grasps what it’s like being in this business than we do for each other. The period we emerged from, to have survived and be where we are today is mental.”
Katona grows emotional reflecting on the intense paparazzi scrutiny of the 1990s and 2000s, with up to 40 photographers outside her home daily. She takes pride in surviving that era of authentic pop stardom, complete with handwritten fan letters—a nostalgia absent today.
