'I'm a Celebrity' star Jordan North raises £2,000 for Pendleside Hospice in live 'Q and A' session

Some 3,000 people watched Jordan answer questions in his London flat about his time in Gwrych Castle and about his beloved Burnley FC.

Radio One DJ and Pendleside ambassador Jordan (30) said his time on ‘I’m A Celeb’ were the best three weeks of his life and that he had come out a different person.

He said: “I learned I was stronger than I thought and that I can be brave when I want to be.

“It changed me as a person and I now realise I don’t have to live in the safe lane anymore. I can get out of my safe bubble.

“This week I went into a lift and was fine and that’s something I hated before.”

Throughout the 50 minutes Jordan was online he repeatedly appealed for people to make donations of either £3, £5 or £10 to Pendleside.

He said: “Pendleside is very close to home for me. Most people in Burnley have raised money for it or been touched by it at some time or another.

"It does great things. I have had relatives cared for in there and a close friend of my mum works there. It’s just such a wonderful place.”

Jordan talked about his stay in the castle and the excitement of the final when he was pipped at the post to win in the tighest of margins by TV presenter Giovanna Fletcher.

“All of us wanted G to win,” said Jordan. “She is a genuine, lovely, caring person.”

Of his highs and lows he said the first trial in the 'Viper Vault' was the most scary and overall the days were tough.

He added: “Eating the cow’s tongue was horrible, it was all fat and gristle, and when I ate the fermented fish I could smell and taste it all night despite washing and cleaning my teeth repeatedly.

“The best night was when we had the banquet but it was bitter sweet because we had beaten the girls in the trials and they didn’t get the food. But I was so hungry it put a spring in my step for a few days.”

Jordan said he had made 11 new 'lifelong friends' while in the castle.

He explained: “We all got on so well which was good. I was so grateful for that. I don’t think the viewers would have wanted arguments and screaming at each other after the year we have all had.

“I was very close to Vernon Kay, Shane Ritchie and Victoria Derbyshire but probably it was Bev (Beverley Callard, who plays Liz McDonald in Coronation Street) who I got on with best.

"We just clicked from the first day.”

Jordan revealed his favourite all-time Burnley player was Robbie Blake and his first choice in the present team is captain Ben Mee.

He said: “I’ve been told that Ben, Jay Rod, Ashley Barnes and others were all voting for me. I can’t believe it, these are all my heroes!

“One thing I have missed this year is going up to Burnley when we are playing at home.

"It’s not just the match, it’s the train journey, it’s the bacon butties at my mum’s, then a pint in the pub, and an Oddies or Haffner pie, a Guinness after the game and corned beef hash at my mum’s later.”

Throughout the questions and answers Jordan kept apologising for having to go to a pan of corned beef hash he was making for his dinner!

“I don’t want it to stick to the bottom!” he said.

He said following the show he had lots of things lined up in the future but that working on Radio One was still the one thing he loved doing.

Asked what his lasting memory of his stay in the castle would be Jordan revealed his cheeky sense of humour when he said: “I have no illusions about my future and I can imagine in years to come when I am long forgotten about, I will be propping up a bar somewhere in Burnley telling people that I once had a shower with Shane Ritchie!”

Describing Jordan as a 'wonderful ambassador' for the hospice,chief executive Helen McVey, said:"Throughout the pandemic Jordan has hosted monthly online quizzes which have already raised several thousand pounds.

“And now, despite his busy schedule, he found time to raise even more money by answering questions about his time on 'I’m A Celebrity.'

"We really appreciate all the time and effort he gives to Pendleside.”

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/people/burnleys-jordan-north-pipped-post-im-celebrity-final-fans-declare-he-will-always-be-their-king-3058755