'King Tony' arrives back from the jungle

King of the Jungle Tony Blackburn today arrived back in Britain and said he was looking forward to being reunited with his family.

The veteran DJ, fresh from his victory in ITV1’s I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! touched down at Heathrow Airport on a flight from Australia.

His wife Debbie and five-year-old daughter Victoria were not at Terminal Four to meet him but he was due to see them later at home.

The 59-year-old told reporters: “It was very tough out there – tougher than I thought it was going to be, to be honest.

“Luckily I took my celebrity mirror in with me so I could see myself, otherwise I don’t think I would have been able to survive it.”

He added: “I’m just looking forward to seeing my family again. It’s been a long two weeks.”

Fellow contestants Uri Geller and Nell McAndrew arrived on the same flight.

Model McAndrew hugged Blackburn and said: “Love you lots – well done, king of the jungle.”

Blackburn was also presented with a plastic crown and bottle of Moet and Chandon champagne by colleagues from Capital Gold radio station.

More than 12 million people tuned in to see him beat socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson in Sunday’s final.

The DJ raised tens of thousands of pounds for his chosen charity, the National Autistic Society.