As a softly spoken Liverpudlian who shies away from the spotlight and says the only thing he knows how to do is ‘punch people in the face’ – Tony Bellew has defied expectations by winning the public vote and making it to the I’m a Celebrity final.

But no one is more shocked than the Bellew family themselves.

The champion boxer’s wife, Rachael, 40, told MailOnline: ‘I can’t believe he’s still in and in the final. I was so sure he was going today that I tidied the hotel room and everything.

‘I was really emotional this morning when he didn’t come out, I was so sure he would and I really want him back now.

‘But of course, the kids want him to win, especially our eleven-year-old, he really wants his dad to win.’

Tony Bellew’s wife Rachael has revealed she is shocked that he is in the I’m A Celebrity final

The champion boxer’s wife, Rachael, 40, told MailOnline: ‘I can’t believe he’s still in and in the final. I was so sure he was going today that I tidied the hotel room and everything’

Rachael is staying at the Marriott Hotel in Surfers’ Paradise while looking after her four young sons; Corey, 18, Cobey, 15, Carter, 11 and Carson, three.

The mother-of-four said: ‘The school was so supportive of them coming out.

‘Well, I sent Tony in to speak to the headteacher because I said, “This is your thing, so you’re doing it” and the head was completely fine with it and said to Tony, “Hey, go and enjoy yourself.”‘

Childhood sweethearts, Tony and Rachael are both from the Toxeth area in Liverpool and met 22 years ago at the nightclub he was bouncer to – this is the longest they have ever spent apart from one another.

When she made a surprise visit to him in the jungle on Friday night’s episode, Tony broke down in tears and later said: ‘This will stick with me more than any moment I’ve had in the jungle.’

But Rachael has now revealed that he also whispered to her in private: ‘I’m in shock Rachael, how am I still here?’

Tony, 40, is joined in the final by the former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, 59, and Made in Chelsea’s Sam Thompson, 31 and King of the Jungle will be announced tonight.

It comes after Josie Gibson became the seventh campmate to be eliminated from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Before the show started earlier last month, the former boxing champion had some of the lowest odds to make it to the final with 16-1.

Whereas Sam Thompson was on 6-1 and Nigel Farage was 7-1.

‘I was really emotional this morning when he didn’t come out, I was so sure he would and I really want him back now.’

Rachael is staying at the Marriott Hotel in Surfers’ Paradise while looking after her four young sons; Corey, 18, Cobey, 15, Carter, 11 and Carson, three

Tony arrived in the jungle five days after the other celebrities with the jockey Frankie Dettori, who was the first to leave the show and has since won the heart of the public with his no-nonsense manner and consistent calm in the camp.

fans were left fuming upon her exit as they shared their disappointment that she didn’t make the final – after she was the last woman standing in the camp.

Many viewers also shared their annoyance that controversial politician Nigel, 59, had not been voted out instead of Josie as they said she deserved to make it through.

Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter – one wrote: ‘ How is Josie out and Nigel still in,’ another said: ‘How the f**k is Nigel still in and Josie just left???’

A third tweeted: ‘Noooo!!!!!!! Not Josie. WHY IS NIGEL STILL IN THERE???!!!!’ and another penned: ‘Trying to figure out how Nigel beat Josie.’

A fifth gushed: ‘Aw, Josie has just been the best! I really wanted her to win right from the start, and I’m so happy she got so far. She’s been such good fun!’

And one sweetly added: ‘She was the last woman standing so she’s still the Queen of the jungle, we love you Josie.’

The This Morning host, 38, narrowly missed out on a place in the much-anticipated final as she was sent packing just one day before the winner will be crowned

Josie’s exit leaves Sam Thompson, Tony Bellew and Nigel Farage as the three finalists as they will battle it out for the King of the Jungle title on Sunday night

Despite fans’ upset over her exit, she appeared thrilled to be going home after three weeks in the jungle as she stood up and cheered when her name was announced.

Josie has had an up-and-down journey in the jungle and has spoken openly about her difficulties, including breaking down in tears over missing her son Reggie , five.

After her elimination, she spoke to Ant and Dec about her time in the jungle and reflected on her famous kitchen rows with Fred Sirieix.

Josie and the maître d’hôtel and professional chef previously clashed as Fred hit out at her cooking skills while struggling to let go of his former camp chef role.

However, Josie insisted that ‘everyone preferred’ her food as she told how they settled the tension with a final battle in the kitchen.

‘It was the battle of the chefs wasn’t it? When someone criticises what you do along the way, it puts a lot of pressure, everyone’s starving… I think I put him straight in the end,’ she said of their rows.

Upon her elimination, Josie then walked across the iconic bridge, where she was greeted by her best friend Mia Williams.

Her son Reggie did not appear on the bridge to meet her, but is nearby in Australia after Mia brought him to Australia to reunite with his mother upon her exit.

After her elimination, she spoke to Ant and Dec about her time in the jungle and reflected on her famous kitchen rows with Fred Sirieix

Her exit came one day after she narrowly avoided leaving the camp on Friday as she came in the bottom two alongside Marvin

Josie shares Reggie, with her ex-boyfriend Terry Bond. The pair started dating in 2017 but split in 2018 when Reggie was five months old.

After her exit, Josie became the seventh star to back Sam for the crown as he seems to have won over viewers and campmates alike with his bubbly and enthusiastic personality.

When asked who she wants to win, she said: ‘Sam has just got a magic about him, he’s entertaining from the moment he wakes up until he goes to sleep,’ before adding that she would also be happy to see Tony win.

All of the eliminated celebrities so far have backed Sam to win the 2023 series, and bookies have named both Sam and Tony as favourites to be crowned King of the Jungle.