Biggins was a surprise arrival to the Australian jungle camp

The panto star beat US ex-model Janice Dickinson to the title of "king of the jungle", while former pop star Jason "J" Brown finished in third place.

The trio made the climax of the jungle reality show after Welsh singer Cerys Matthews was voted off by viewers in the penultimate programme.

Biggins becomes the seventh champion since the ITV show began in 2002.

The emotional 58-year-old said: "I can't believe it, I'm really shocked. Thank you Great Britain."

Crocodile's foot

"I've had such a ball. But I never want to see mud again. There is so much mud there," he added, referring to the Australian bush clearing where the celebrities made their camp.

"I've made wonderful friends and I've done wonderful things that I never thought I would do. Unbelievable fun, it was just the best."

He said that the jungle environment had improved his health, and he had enjoyed the trials endured on the show.

Janice Dickinson achieves the best result by a non-British celebrity

On his final day in camp, Biggins successfully completed the show's infamous bush tucker trial, where he ate items including a kangaroo penis and testicle, cockroaches and a crocodile's foot.

Runner-up Dickinson, who rose to fame in the 1970s as a model, was covered in insects and slime, also successfully earning a lavish meal for the camp.

Eleven celebrities initially entered the jungle, with Biggins a surprise late addition to the show.

Romance apparently blossomed between former EastEnders actor Marc Bannerman and Welsh singer Cerys Matthews, but Bannerman was the first to be voted off.

Other famous faces who took part in the programme included public relations guru Lynne Franks, former England footballer Rodney Marsh and Apprentice contender Katie Hopkins.