I'm A Celeb's Sam Thompson chokes back tears at message from girlfriend Zara McDermott

ITV viewers were left emotional last night as Sam Thompson was crowned this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! winner.

The 31-year-old Made In Chelsea star quickly became a fan-favourite for viewers at home and his fellow campmates, with the vast majority of eliminated stars claiming they'd love to see him take home the jungle crown and sceptre.

It all came down to a nail-biting grand finale last night, with Sam narrowly beating professional boxer Tony Bellew to the win.

The SW3 star also knocked Nigel Farage out of the running, with the ex-politician landing in third place.

With tears in his eyes, Sam thanked both viewers of the show for their votes and I'm A Celeb hosts Ant and Dec for welcoming him Down Under.

It was then that he set off across the iconic jungle bridge, where stars are famously reunited with their family and friends.

Whilst many viewers at home expected posh boy Sam to be greeted by his Love Island star girlfriend Zara McDermott, he was instead met with his TOWIE best friend, Pete Wicks.

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Documentary-maker Zara, 26, did, however, record a heartfelt congratulatory message to Sam following his victory last night, which was played during his interview this morning with Lorraine Kelly.

"I don't think the word proud even cuts it anymore," she says in the clip. "The way you carried yourself in that jungle and made everyone feel so comfortable, you brought such a sparkle to that camp.

"I've never never met anyone like you before. I love you so much and can't wait to have you back."

Sam quickly became emotional whilst watching the pre-recorded video, telling host Lorraine: "That's the sweetest thing, when you see something like that, that's my little goose!

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"I miss her so much. I know she has been sleeping on my side every night and I am so lucky to have her in my life – I have so many people asking 'how did you do that?' and I don’t know.

"Sometimes I wake up to check she’s still there and is it a dream and luckily it’s not! I am so lucky to have her in my life."

Zara had previously explained why she wouldn't be able to travel to Australia to meet her former Celebs Go Dating boyfriend.

Catching up with TikTok star Grace Barry on her Saving Grace podcast last week, Zara revealed that Sam had asked Pete, 36, to join him in Australia as he didn't believe she'd have finished her stint on Strictly Come Dancing by the time the final rolled around.

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The former dating show star and her Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima were the sixth couple to be eliminated from the competition, however, meaning she could have flown over, if Pete hadn't already agreed.

During his catch-up with Lorraine, Sam then went on to gush over his Essex-born bff Pete, adding: "[He] is the best mate anyone could ever ask for.

"He's not immediate family and he's come out for here for two weeks and been a rock for my girlfriend who couldn't be there and my mum and my friends.

"Even at he hotel now, he's ushering me around asking 'are you ok mate?'. I've never had this before from him, he's usually very stern! And with him at the end of the bridge if it wasn't Zara, it was him. I'm just so lucky, I owe him a lot."