‘Great catch up!’ Vernon Kay virtually reunites with his ‘I’m A Celebrity family’

He finished in third place during this year’s I’m A Celebrity finale two weeks ago.

And Vernon Kay revealed he had spent the evening catching up with his campmates on a Zoom call, as he sweetly admitted it was ‘great’ to chat to some of his ‘I’m A Celeb family’ on Friday night.

The TV presenter, 46, was joined on the call by Ruthie Henshall, Hollie Arnold MBE, Shane Richie and his wife Christie and Giovanna Fletcher and her husband Tom.

Also present in the chat was Beverley Callard and her ‘megashag’ husband Jon, AJ Pritchard, Victoria Derbyshire and runner-up Jordan North.

The group of castle campmates were also joined by ITV producer Lee Servis.

He captioned the screenshot of the call: ‘Great catch up with the @imacelebrity family!! So much chat with those that could make it…[hearts]’ 

Vernon pulled out all the stops for the video call, as he appeared dressed in his camp T-shirt and camouflage headband.

Meanwhile other members of the chat appeared in the festive spirit as Hollie sported a red Santa hat and McFly star Tom wore a Christmas jumper. 

Vernon returned home earlier this month after a three week stint in Gwrych Castle.

On Thursday night, Vernon enjoyed a date night at home with his wife Tess Daly, which he gushed about in a post shared via Instagram.

The TV star looked smitten as he posed with the Strictly Come Dancing co-host, 51, in a black-and-white snap from their evening together.

Tess looked away from the camera in the loved-up snap as he posed side-by-side with her other half, who smiled at the camera.

Delighted by their evening, Vernon wrote in the caption: ‘Last nights date night….  The joy of good, refuelling food and a jolly good catch up with the fam was very special! Didn’t miss rice and beans with fried rodent one bit!!!’

I’m A Celebrity winner Giovanna seemed amused by Vernon’s comments on their meal as she joked: ‘You didn’t even order a side of pigeon? Or Squirrel? Or Eel?’

The author then added that she thought Vernon had shared a ‘stunning picture’ of the two of them.

Earlier this month, Tess said she was already ‘feeding up’ her husband after his two-and-a-half stone weight loss.

The Strictly Come Dancing star took to her Instagram Stories and shared a photo of chicken soup and bread she made for her other half.

Alongside the photo, the TV host wrote: ‘Chicken soup at bedtime… feeding him up’. 

Tess told of her joy at having her husband back home as she shared a photo of the pair together and wrote: ‘After almost 5 weeks away (2 and a half in isolation before going into the Castle) it’s so good to have him home ❤️ Now it’s time to get that Christmas tree up.’

It comes after Vernon claimed he lost a lot of weight during his 19-day stint on I’m A Celebrity and was left feeling ‘drained’.

The Family Fortunes host, who came third in the ITV reality show, said the programme’s doctor delivered the news after a check-up before he left Gwrych Castle in Wales on Friday night.

He said: ‘We were eating nothing but rice and beans. For the first two meals you’re like, “Yeah, we can do this”, then you realise every meal is bloody rice and beans. It’s awful. You’re so drained. 

‘The medic weighed us after the show and I’ve lost just over two and a half stone, and I haven’t got two and a half stone to lose. So you’re physically drained, you’re emotionally drained because you’re missing your family.’

Vernon, who has been married to Tess or 17 years, said that he is looking forward to putting the weight back on over Christmas.

When asked what he will do when he gets back to his Buckinghamshire home, he said: ‘We’re going to put the Christmas tree up and I’ve got a funny feeling there may be a bottle of champagne involved. Oh I’m going to enjoy putting that two and half stone back on.’

The father-of-two paid tribute to his wife for supporting him and getting him votes by using Instagram.

He added: ‘Tess was just elated for me. I’ve seen what she’s done on social media and she’s worked her socks off for me, it’s amazing. 

‘We’re going to be reunited after Strictly. I’ll get home and see the girls first, Tess will get back about midnight.’