For the 59-year-old it was a remarkable achievement. Not only did Biggins have to face off against a larger than life character like Janice Dickinson, but he showed great determination in all of his bushtucker trails, not least of which saw him eating a gruesome meal of cockroaches, grubs and kangaroo testicles in his final trial.

Overwhelmed with emotion, in an interview with the show’s hosts, Ant and Dec, Biggins said of the experience:

“It’s been a wonderful, wonderful experience and I can’t believe that I’m here, that I’ve done it. 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.
I didn’t think I’d cope because I like my home comforts … I never want to see mud again … But I’ve just had a ball!”

Whilst Janice Dickinson was undoubtedly the star of the series, Biggins quickly became the clear favourite to win, bowling over his fellow campers with his cheeky sense of humour and infectious laughter.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror newspaper after his well deserved win, Biggins said:
“I would like to think I have shown those in high positions in television and in the industry there is more to Christopher Biggins other than just a pantomime dame.
I mean a pantomime dame is a very important part of my life. I love it. I adore it. I work very hard. And it’s great.
But in a way, if I’m honest, I wanted to show people by going into the jungle that there is another side to me.”

You can watch some highlights from the show over here.

Starring as Widow Twankey, Biggins will light up the stage once again in a production of Aladdin at the Grand Theatre which runs from December 11 until January 30.
Ahead of his star turn he visited the Express & Star where he revealed he can’t wait to take to the stage.

Ticket sales are already up 14 per cent on last year’s production of Cinderella which bosses have put down to to the “Biggins effect”.

The star will be joined in the region by his close friend and Hollywood icon Joan Collins who is starring in this year’s performance of Dick Whittington at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

It was Christopher Biggins who told her to give pantomime a try and he says she is looking forward to the role.

“It’s my life — it’s what I do,” declared the 62-year-old, who is starring as Widow Twankey in Aladdin at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.

“I have been doing it every December and January for the past 39 years.

“But if I had one wish, it would be to have somebody put the make-up on for me. That is why I love appearing on TV shows. You just sit back in the chair.

“In panto it is a different story and my changing face is all my own work. It takes at least half an hour every day.”

The routine is always the same. First comes the Mac base powder, then the blue round his eye, followed by eye-liner.

He never wears false eye lashes because they are “too much of a drag act.”

Plenty of red rouge comes next followed by a beauty spot and finally lashings of red lipstick. He said: “I first went through this routine when playing Mother Goose at the Civic Theatre in Darlington 39 years ago.

“I was insulted when they first made the offer because I was sure I was too young but changed my mind after they upped the money. It was the best decision I have ever made. I get into the theatre at 1pm and don’t leave until 10pm. I spend a lot of those nine hours in my dressing room.

“The TV is on all the time because otherwise you wouldn’t have a clue what is going on in the outside world because you are living in the parallel universe of panto land.

“I leave the dressing room at 2.30pm when the matinee starts and come back for a cup of tea and biscuit at the end of act one.

“I don’t take my make-up off until after the evening performance.

“I have a half-hour sleep on the sofa in my dressing room, then touch up my make-up before going back on stage for the next show.”