Brit wins German I'm A Celebrity

He may be a virtual unknown over here, but West Midlands singer Ross Anthony has chomped his way through creepy-crawlies and fled a mob of emus to win the German version of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!

The 33-year-old from Bridgnorth beat nine other stars to land the £22,000 top prize and is now being inundated with offers of work.

The former Bridgnorth Endowed School pupil, who made his name on the German version of Popstars, said he was inspired by the recent performance of Christopher Biggins on the UK show.

He said: "I'm gobsmacked, I can't believe I have won. It was an amazing experience.

"Why did they choose an English guy? I think it was because I showed my emotions. The Germans are quite hard, they went through everything but didn't show their feelings but there I was blubbing my heart out from the start."Ross, who is also known as Catterrall, triumphed over former Manchester City goalie Ike Imnel and porn star Gina Wild to win the hugely popular Ich Bin Ein Star, Holt Mich Hier Raus!

He said the worst of his tasks was entering a pen full of emus covered in food and being repeatedly pecked. "It was like being stabbed with a knife," he said.

In this country, Mr Anthony has only a few pantomime appearances alongside the likes of Martine McCutcheon and Barbara Windsor to his name.

But in Germany he was selected from more than 12,000 hopefuls on Popstars to join the band Bro'Sis. The group went on to become one of the country's biggest selling acts, selling 4.5 million records and scoring number one hits in Austria and Switzerland. He has also published an autobiography, The Inside Me.

Ross's parents Denis and Vivien, who still live in Linley Brook, near Bridgnorth, were today celebrating his victory.

Mrs Catterrall said: "It is unbelievable. We didn't expect an Englishman to win on a German show. We are both very proud of him."

She added he was hoping to get back to England soon but expects to be in demand over the next few months.

Up until now, the pinnacle of his popularity came when he starred in Ross And Paul In Love, a reality soap detailing the build-up to his 2006 wedding to the opera singer Paul Reeves.

Mr Anthony said: "We are now the most prominent gay couple in Germany."