When I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! kicked off this season earlier this month, there were some early concerns about the cast being just a little too nice. Fans were wondering: where’s the drama? Where are the scandalous politicians? Where’s the brash socialites who are always stirring things up? Instead, we’ve been treated to a roster of stars who, for the most part, could be described as delightful. We’ve got Oti Mabuse bringing her radiant dance-floor charm, Alan Halsall with his down-to-earth, approachable soap star vibe, and even Barry McGuigan, the tough-as-nails ex-boxer, showing off a surprisingly tender side. So far, it’s been a season full of heartfelt moments and feel-good interactions.
But then, just when it seemed like the camp was running on nothing but good vibes, along comes Reverend Richard Coles. If anyone was going to add a dash of unexpected warmth (and a hint of unexpected wisdom), it was going to be him. You might remember Coles from his pop star days, as he was part of the hit band The Communards alongside Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s. However, since leaving pop stardom behind in his twenties, Coles has reinvented himself as the world’s nicest man. From his time as an Anglican vicar (he retired in 2022) to his broadcasting career on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live, Coles’ public image has been that of a gentle soul who’s always ready to offer a kind word or a bit of sage advice. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s recently dipped his toes into writing cozy murder mysteries, proving that he's not just a nice guy but also a multi-talented one, much like his fellow nice-guy author, Richard Osman.
It’s clear that this season of I’m a Celebrity may be light on high drama, but it’s packed with genuinely touching moments, many of which revolve around Coles. What’s especially endearing about him is that even though he joined the camp later than the rest, he quickly became an essential part of the group. One standout moment came during a recent episode when Oti Mabuse opened up to him about the trauma she endured after her daughter was born prematurely. As she tearfully shared her painful memories of watching her baby fight for life in a neonatal intensive care unit, Coles listened with compassion and then shared his own story. He recalled the time he baptized a premature baby with just a pipette of water, and how that child not only survived but went on to become a healthy young footballer. It was a simple story, but it brought comfort to Oti and, by extension, to viewers at home. And it didn’t end there—when Oti asked if Coles would pray for her daughter, his response was unexpectedly beautiful: “I’ve already said a prayer for her actually.”
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the emotional moments Coles has shared in camp. He has opened up about his own personal losses, especially the devastating death of his partner, David, who passed away just days before Christmas in 2019 from liver disease caused by alcoholism. To add to his grief, Coles also lost his two beloved dachshunds, Daisy and Pongo, on the same day back in August, just months after the death of his mother, Elizabeth. These personal tragedies could have easily left Coles withdrawn, but instead, he’s found a way to process his grief and even find humor in his pain. In one tender moment with Oti, he recounted a dream he had about David, jokingly describing how David walked into the house carrying a Co-op shopping bag, as if nothing had happened. Coles, with his characteristic wit, said to David in the dream, “I thought you were dead.” To which David replied, “No, I was just out shopping.”
Even when he’s talking about deeply emotional subjects, Coles never loses his sense of humor, which makes his moments of vulnerability all the more impactful. In one particularly heartfelt conversation with influencer GK Barry, Coles shared his thoughts on sexuality and the church, offering a perspective that was refreshingly inclusive and accepting. When Barry opened up about her own coming-out experience earlier in the series, Coles reassured her that he had never once questioned whether being gay was acceptable in God’s eyes. “I’ve never given it a moment’s twinge of anxiety,” he said. “Also, I was not the first. Sometimes I look at documents from the early church, or the church of the Middle Ages, and I just think… so gay.” That’s classic Coles—delivering a thought-provoking sentiment with a touch of humor.
The bond Coles has built with the other contestants is also something special. In a moment of reflection, GK Barry said, “I came into this jungle, maybe not knowing who I would gel with or who I would be close with in here, and never in a million years if you told me that I would be getting on best with a reverend would I have believed you. But I think he might be my favourite person in here.” It’s a sentiment that has been echoed by many of the other campmates. Even Maura Higgins from Love Island seemed to develop a quick and genuine friendship with Coles when they were thrown together in a jungle task that involved a healthy dose of trickery and deceit—something Coles turned out to be rather good at. In fact, one viewer summed up the unexpected camaraderie between Coles and Maura in a tweet: “Every year there’s the friendship no one expected, and this year it’s Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles.”
It’s this sort of unpredictable connection that’s helping to make Coles one of the standout stars of this season. In fact, if things continue as they’re going, there’s a real chance that Coles will walk away from the jungle as a full-fledged national treasure. He’s already carved out a unique place for himself in the public consciousness, having previously appeared on Strictly Come Dancing—and in the world of British TV, that’s a huge accomplishment. But now, with his witty, compassionate, and effortlessly likable persona on full display, Coles could very well be on the cusp of becoming a beloved figure for even broader audiences.
Outside of the camp, Coles has also kept busy. Earlier this year, he completed a seven-month tour across the UK, titled Borderline National Trinket. This was just another opportunity for him to connect with fans and showcase his natural charm. And with his ongoing success in the world of broadcasting and literature, it’s clear that Coles is a man who’s made the transition from pop star to pop culture icon with grace and a lot of heart.
New episodes of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! continue to air every night at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, so be sure to tune in to catch more of Coles’ heartwarming antics. Whether he’s bonding with his fellow campmates or offering sage advice to those around him, it’s clear that Reverend Richard Coles has become an unassuming yet irreplaceable part of this season's cast. And who knows? If things keep going the way they are, Coles may leave the jungle not just as a fan favorite but as the nation’s newest, most cherished star.
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