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Wednesday, 11 September, 2002, 09:56 GMT 10:56 UK
Jungle king Blackburn back home
Tony Blackburn
Blackburn's radio colleagues presented him with a crown
Veteran DJ Tony Blackburn has arrived back in Britain after his victory in the ITV1 show I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

Blackburn, 59, who landed at Heathrow's Terminal Four on Wednesday morning, said he was looking forward to being reunited with his family.

He added that it was "log-tastic" to win the show, which saw eight minor celebrities braving the elements of the Australian rainforest to raise money for their chosen charities.

"It was very tough out there - tougher than I thought it was going to be, to be honest," he said.

"Luckily I took my celebrity mirror in with me so I could see myself, otherwise I don't think I would have been able to survive."
 Uri Geller and Tony Blackburn
Fellow contestant Uri Geller (left) was on the same flight

He also expressed surprise at the popularity of the show, which regularly attracted over seven million viewers.

About 12 million people tuned in to see him win Sunday's final against socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.

"I had no idea how popular it was over here. Even the guy at passport control congratulated me on the way I did the snake trial," he said.

"But it was like being in prison. I was in a show I couldn't control."

"All the arguing in the first week blew my mind a bit. They weren't necessarily people you would want to go on holiday with."

Blackburn, who raised a large sum of money for the National Autistic Society, was presented with a plastic crown and bottle of champagne by his colleagues at radio station Classic Gold.

He said he would be reunited with his wife Debbie and five-year-old daughter Victoria at home later today.

"I'm just looking forward to seeing my family again," he said. "It's been a long two weeks."

The DJ has also seen a surge in his popularity since appearing on the show, with a spokesman saying he has received "a lot of offers".

"However, he is still working seven days a week as it is," the spokesman added. "So we'll look at what comes in and see which seems exciting."

Model Nell McAndrew and psychic Uri Geller, who was the first person to be voted off the show, arrived back in London on the same flight.

See also:

09 Sep 02 | Entertainment
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27 Aug 02 | Entertainment
04 Sep 02 | Entertainment
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