Manchester City and England legend Jill Scott MBE was crowned ‘Queen of the Jungle’ as she became the I’m a Celebrity winner for 2022. The Sunderland-born ex-midfield maestro trumped 11 fellow contestants, including finalists Owen Warner and Matt Hancock, to win the 22nd edition of the hit TV series.

In our article, we will take you through the highs and lows of her journey in the jungle, how she won the competition and discuss her potential plans for the future, having retired from football.

Who is Jill Scott?

You might already be familiar with her exploits in the jungle, but where Jill Scott made her name was in the sky blue shirt of Manchester City Ladies. She made close to 200 appearances for the citizens in an illustrious career, claiming seven domestic titles during her time there.1 She also had previous stints at Sunderland, Everton and Aston Villa.

Profile of Jill Scott (Data taken as of 30.11.2022)4,5
Jill Scott Stats
Date of Birth 2nd February 1987 (35 Years)
Hometown Sunderland, North-East England
Previous Domestic Clubs Sunderland, Everton, Manchester City, Aston Villa (loan)
International Appearances 161 (England)
International Goals 27

The midfielder was also part of the England Lionesses squad, who famously won Euro 2022 in front of a capacity crowd at Wembley Stadium. After passing 160 appearances for the national side, the 35-year-old called time on her football career last summer. Her retirement opened the doors to participate in the show, and like all true winners, she came out on top in the competition.

Life in the I’m a Celebrity Camp

Having spent 23 days in gruelling subtropical conditions, life in the Australian jungle was no easy task for the I’m a Celebrity 2022 winner. Like most contestants, spending time away from her loved ones was her biggest challenge. Spending a month apart from her partner Shelly Unitt was a particularly tough experience. The lack of modern technology like WIFI to contact her family caused a few problems too.

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. She adapted to the rigours of the jungle and the camp environment with ease. The seven bush-tucker trails she faced (decided and voted on by the public) were also a challenging and humbling experience.

One thing she truly missed in camp was the news of the England men’s team participating in the World Cup in Qatar. As a result, she built a strong relationship with fellow finalist Owen Warner, discussing potential squad line-ups in camp to boost morale. She also played the famous Niall Diamond song Sweet Caroline (England’s non-official adopted anthem) on the days that the team had fixtures.3

Her Road to Victory

Why was Jill Scott so special compared to her campmates? Her bright and bubbly personality, wicked sense of humour and teamwork skills made her an instant hit with her peers. She also had a habit of avoiding the controversies in the camp, opting to stay out of petty squabbles and generally putting food on the table when it came to the bush-tucker trails.

All these qualities were well-received by the public resulting in her surviving elimination votes, as she reached the final of the competition with fellow campmates Owen Warner and Matt Hancock. With 12 million votes, she was crowned the I’m a celebrity final winner to the delight of her adoring fans.

Figures from the ITV show saw that 47% of public votes went to Scott, with Warner garnering 31% and Hancock 22%. The final then became a showdown between two close compatriots (after Hancock’s elimination), in which Scott (58%) pipped Warne (42%) to the title.2 Quizzed on how she felt to be the I’m a Celebrity winner, she remarked: “I just can’t believe it. I think I’m going to owe my grandma a lot of money for 12 million votes.”

Plans for the Future

So, what is next for the Queen of the Jungle? Well, according to her, she has no short terms plans just yet. She has her eye on next year’s Women’s World Cup, where she could contribute as a presenter. According to the Mail Online, she said “Obviously it’s the Women’s World Cup next year… could there be an opportunity to do some presenting? I definitely wouldn’t turn that down especially with it being back in Australia as well but hopefully I wouldn’t have to live in the jungle!”

The long-awaited marriage to her partner Shelly is also at the top of her agenda. As with many other couples, Covid interrupted their plans to tie the knot. After a 2-year engagement, plans are potentially in place to see them walk down the aisle. The date, however, is not confirmed.

As well as being a formidable sportswoman and a TV personality, the I’m a Celebrity winner is also a budding entrepreneur. She owns a coffee shop in Manchester named ‘Boxx2Boxx’, which she runs with her partner3. That is something we expect her to focus her time on, as with most businesses, they don’t run themselves! Well, whatever Jill plans to do in future, life in the Australian wilderness will prepare the Queen of the Jungle for the challenges ahead.

Sources

  1. Manchester City Football Club. (November 27, 2022). Jill Scott wins I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Accessed on November 30, 2022 from https://www.mancity.com/news/womens/jill-scott-wins-im-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here-63805218
  2. BBC News. (November 28, 2022). I’m a Celebrity: Jill Scott wins as Matt Hancock MP finishes third. Accessed on November 30, 2022 from https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63634455
  3. Mail Online. (November 29, 2022). I’m A Celeb winner Jill Scott says she can’t wait to marry fiancée Shelly Unitt. Accessed on November 30, 2022 from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11476713/Im-Celeb-winner-Jill-Scott-says-wait-marry-fianc-e-Shelly-Unitt.html
  4. The Football Association. (n.d). Jill Scott Squad Profile. Accessed on November 30, 2022, 2022 from https://www.englandfootball.com/england/womens-senior-team/squad/jill-scott
  5. Jill Scott (footballer) (2022, November 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jill_Scott_(footballer)&oldid=1124555725