Janet gloats at damp squib finale

Comedian Joe Pasquale is today king of the I'm A Celebrity jungle - but his victory comes amid criticism of the TV final.

Contestant Janet Street-Porter claimed even ITV producers were in despair at the lack of excitement with three men - Pasquale, Paul Burrell and club owner Fran Cosgrave - left in the final.

She said: "For me, three blokes sitting around a fire isn't exactly compulsive viewing and after I left the show the producers were tearing their hair out at the lack of chemistry between the remaining contestants."

Viewers appear to have switched off with ratings of about eight million, down on previous series. More than 14 million saw Kerry McFadden win the show in February.

There was surprise when Street-Porter, 57, was voted off to leave the three men in the camp, as her fiery temper and "Burrell-baiting" had provided some of the most entertaining moments.

Former royal butler Burrell,46, made a desperate bid for victory, crying openly in a plea for viewers' votes.

Today Pasquale, 43, is considering a host of TV offers. He has been a regular face on the light entertainment circuit since the late Eighties and starts rehearsals for pantomime in Birmingham in a week.