I’m A Celeb’s ‘phantom dribbler’ finally REVEALED

One of the biggest mysteries in I'm A Celeb history has been solved

I'm A Celeb Ant and Dec shock phantom dribbler

by Nathan Katnoria |
Updated on

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 2020 came to an end on Friday (4 December) when Giovanna Fletcher was crowned the first ever Queen of the Castle but we couldn’t help but notice that one of the biggest mysteries surround this year’s camp was never resolved… until now, that is.

The celebrity contestants had been trying to figure out who had been peeing on the floor of the camp’s privy – their communal toilet – but, unsurprisingly, none of the male campmates came forward to admit it was them.

But it appears that Shane Richie knew the identity of the “phantom dribbler” all along, as he exposed them once and for all on I’m A Celeb spin-off show The Daily Drop.

Shane Richie I'm A Celeb phantom dribbler
©ITV

Chatting to host Vick Hope, Shane said, “Let's just clear a few things up shall we. When all that started, the phantom dribbler, I was ill. I couldn't stand.

“I remember Vernon, because he's eight foot two, he's a tall lad and it's a long distance from him for the toilet. He went to the toilet and he came back and we said, 'Vernon have you dribbled?', and he was like 'Oh don't, because Tess is watching. Oh, please don’t say nothing.’”

CHECK OUT I'm A Celeb winners and runners-up: where are they now?

Gallery

All the I'm A Celebrity winners EVER (slider)

I'm A Celebrity winners now1 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2002: Tony Blackburn

Tony Blackburn was the first ever winner of I'm A Celeb back in 2002. He had a dramatic fall from grace in 2016 when he was sacked after 49 years working for the BBC, for failing to co-operate with the Jimmy Savile inquiry. He has since returned to the BBC and also hosts a podcast with Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson called Ricky and Tony's Pop Detectives.

I'm A Celebrity winners now2 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2003: Phil Tufnell

Since winning I'm A Celeb in 2003, Tuffers had a long-running stint as team captain on A Question of Sport from 2008 until earlier this year. He also competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 and regularly appears on Test Match Special.

I'm A Celebrity winners now3 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2004: Kerry Katona

What hasn't Kerry been up to since winning the show in 2004? After starring in a series of fly-on-the-wall reality shows called Kerry Katona: Crazy in Love, Kerry Katona: Whole Again and Kerry Katona: What's the Problem?, she's appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebs Go Dating. Kerry also briefly rejoined Atomic Kitten in 2012.

I'm A Celebrity winners now4 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2004: Joe Pasquale

I'm A Celeb viewers were treated to not one but two series in 2004, with comedian Joe Pasquale inheriting the crown from Kerry Katona. These days, he continues to tour across the UK with his stand-up comedy shows. He also took part in the 2016 series of Tonight At The London Palladium on ITV and is the voice of Underdog, the cartoon dog mascot of National Accident Helpline.

I'm A Celebrity winners now5 of 20
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2005: Carol Thatcher

The journalist and author lives in Switzerland with her partner Marco Grass. In 2016, Carol blocked a proposed statue of her late mother, the former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, because the sculptor had neglected to include the Baroness' key accessory: her handbag. This, among other things has driven a deep wedge between Carol and her twin brother Denis Thatcher.

I'm A Celebrity winners now6 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2006: Matt Willis

After being crowned King of the Jungle in 2006, Matt and his Busted bandmate James Bourne formed a supergroup with McFly - brilliantly called McBusted. Matt and James then had a word with Charlie Simpson and got the band back together taking Busted back on tour with the original line-up, and releasing the song Coming Home. He's also starred in EastEnders and Birds Of A Feather. Currently, Matt is touring the UK in a production of the musical Waitress.

I'm A Celebrity winners now7 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2007: Christopher Biggins

After winning I'm A Celeb in 2007, actor Christopher Biggins won Celebrity Come Dine With Me in 2009, took part in Celebrity MasterChef in 2014 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2016. Biggins continues to work in pantomimes and received the Lifetime Achievement award at The Great British Pantomime Awards in 2017.

I'm A Celebrity winners now8 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2008: Joe Swash

Cheeky chap Joe Swash swapped EastEnders for the jungle and won the show in 2008. Since then, he's been all over TV and landed a job as host of the spin-off I'm A Celebrity: Extra Camp in 2009. Last year, he won Dancing On Ice and regularly pops up on daytime TV faves This Morning and Loose Women. He got engaged to 2010 Jungle Queen Stacey Solomon in 2019 and has also welcomed two children with her.

I'm A Celebrity winners now9 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2009: Gino D'Acampo

The nation fell in love with Gino in 2009. Since winning the show, Gino is a regular fixture on TV screens from This Morning to Celebrity Juice and his Gino, Gordon and Fred shows with Gordon Ramsey and Fred Siriex.

I'm A Celebrity winners now10 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2010: Stacey Solomon

After showing off her bubbly personality on The X Factor, Stacey Solomon entered the jungle and won the show in 2010. Since then, she's been a regular panelist on Loose Women, brought out her own book, welcomed two children and gotten engaged to Joe Swash.

I'm A Celebrity winners now11 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2011: Dougie Poynter

McFly guitarist Dougie Poynter was crowned King of the Jungle ahead of TOWIE's Mark Wright in 2011. Since winning the crown, he's become a model and has created a new band, INK. He's still part of McFly though and regularly tours the country with the band.

I'm A Celebrity winners now12 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2012: Charlie Brooks

EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks couldn't believe it when Ant and Dec announced her as the winner in 2012. She continued her role as Janine Butcher on the show until 2014 when she left to go to Paris and recently returned to Albert Square earlier this year after seven years away.

I'm A Celebrity winners now13 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2013: Kian Egan

After 22 days in the jungle, Westlife star Kian Egan was crowned the King in 2013. He reunited with his Westlife bandmates in 2018 for an album and a tour. The boyband are also set to tour again next year and have a new album in the works.

I'm A Celebrity winners now14 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2014: Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty

Retired world super bike racer Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty won over the viewing public in 2014. He hasn't been seen a huge amount since then, unfortunately.

I'm A Celebrity winners now15 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2015: Vicky Pattison

Vicky Pattison showed a different side to her usual Geordie Shore antics, winning over the public and being crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2015. She since had a spot on the Loose Women panel, and even loved the jungle so much that she went back in for the Australian version in 2018, coming fourth place. She's since taken part in Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity Coach Trip and also hosts her own podcast The Secret To.

I'm A Celebrity winners now16 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2016: Scarlett Moffatt

Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt was crowned Queen of the Jungle after winning the show in 2016. She's since had plenty of presenting roles and had a regular spot on the I'm A Celeb spin-off show alongside Joe Swash until it was axed in 2019.

I'm A Celebrity winners now17 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2017: Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo

Made In Chelsea star Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo was crowned 2017's Queen of the Jungle after beating Jamie Lomas. She's since presented backstage at the National Television Awards, been a reporter for This Morning, starred on Celebrity Gogglebox with campmate Stanley Johnson and released her own clothing collection.

I'm A Celebrity winners now18 of 20
CREDIT: Shutterstock

2018: Harry Redknapp

Football manager Harry Redknapp was crowned King of the Jungle in 2018, beating actors Emily Atack and John Barrowman to the top spot. He won over viewers with his heart melting praise of wife of nearly 60 years, Sandra. Harry and Sandra appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox the following year. They were most recently seen when their son Jamie married his girlfriend Frida Andersson-Lourie.

I'm A Celebrity winners now19 of 20
CREDIT: Getty

2019: Jacqueline Jossa

Since winning I'm A Celeb in 2019, former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa has launched a number of clothing collections with In The Style.

I'm A Celebrity winners now20 of 20
CREDIT: ITV Pictures

2020: Giovanna Fletcher

Giovanna Fletcher was crowned the first ever Queen of the Castle last year and recently announced that she was replacing Lily Allen in West End show 2:22 – A Ghost Story. She's also just released a new novel called Walking On Sunshine.

I'm A Celeb Vernon Kay phantom dribbler
©ITV

The former EastEnders actor explained, “We had to cover it up because he was worried about what Tess would say. It was Vernon.

“Vernon kept saying 'Oh Shane, don't say nothing, because Tess is watching and she's on Strictly. She's dead posh, my wife.

"So, Vernon if you're watching, it was you and you know it was you!"

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Shane’s revelation comes after he denied being the phantom dribbler while being grilled by Ant and Dec following his exit from camp.

Trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, Dec asked, “There's a couple of bits we've got to cover with you, who's the 'phantom dribbler'? It's you, isn't it?"

But Shane replied, “Well it can't be me can it?

He insisted, “I promise it's not me because every time they talked about it, I never stood, I was ill that time.

"I was sitting on the toilet all the time and they kept saying it was me, and I was saying it's not me."

At least the mystery has FINALLY been solved.

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