Janet and Paul, the odd couple

Janet Street-Porter vowed she would "rather eat maggots than be nice to Paul Burrell". But it seems she is instead having to eat her words. Because the outspoken guru of "yoof" TV and the champion of the monarchy have forged I'm A Celebrity's oddest friendship.

Street-Porter entered the ITV jungle promising a noholds barred approach to the "second-division achievers" in camp.

"I wanted to see whether I could deal with torture - listening to Paul Burrell wittering on about recipes that Diana loved," she claimed.

Her friend Sir Elton John even predicted that the former Royal butler would face the worst of her wrath.

But after a few days of halfhearted rancour, she and Burrell have settled into a gently bickering relationship similar to an old married couple.

Street-Porter, 57, has become concerned with Burrell's protection from mosquitoes.

"Paul are you putting enough lotion on?" she chided. "There's not a time not to wear it." Burrell, 46, has admitted their verbal-sparring has helped him. "Janet's good - we enjoy a good argument and she rants off at me and I rant off at her," he said. "I am beginning to get stronger now and I can give back as good as she gives me. That's what she likes - she doesn't like people to lie down and be submissive."

Street-Porter has also been acting as Burrell's counsellor. "I've told Paul I think he's got a lot of unfinished business and he should move on look

and forward not not backward," she said.

In turn, she has softened and confided in the ex-footman about her own family.

An insider said: "They are still arguing but it's turned into genuine affection. I think Janet's amazed she's found they can actually get on and have a laugh."

The show has this week attracted 8.2 and 9.1 million viewers, trouncing the BBC but short of the average 14 million ratings in February.