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How my grandfather Stanley Johnson proved all the doubters wrong

Stanley Johnson, who is no longer in the jungle - PA
Stanley Johnson, who is no longer in the jungle - PA

When my grandfather Stanley Johnson entered the jungle, his son - and my uncle - Foreign Secretary Boris made this prediction: “I am sure he will do brilliantly. He has vast experience of jungles of all kinds and as far as I know he will eat almost anything within reason.”

Well, his words were proved almost correct during Granddaddy’s time in the gross-out reality showI’m a Celebrity...Get me out of Here. Taking part in the live trial he smashed it out of the park, eating all the bugs served up to him and claiming “they were delicious”. He appeared, if not at home in the jungle, at least no more discomforted by it than any of the other contestants. And as Boris foresaw, he did do brilliantly - of that there is no doubt. On Wednesday night, viewers watched as my grandfather finally left the jungle just four days before the final. I for one won’t enjoy it as much now. But then, it’s fair to say I’m biased.

It has been bizarre to watch 17 nights of Granddaddy rubbing along with a group of “celebrity” strangers he’d never heard of in an ITV reality show he’d never watched. But to see him win the hearts of everyone in the camp, as well as those of the viewing public, made it all worth it.

Georgia Toffolo, who struck up a friendship with Stanley Johnson  - Credit: ITV/PA
Georgia Toffolo, who struck up a friendship with Stanley Johnson Credit: ITV/PA

In case you weren’t as glued to it as I was, Granddaddy was the main provider of ‘Dad jokes’ (or Grandad puns) for the series, setting the tone on day one when he claimed he was a “very happy chappy, Shappi” when partnered with British-Iranian comedian Shappi Khorsandi. “When the going gets tough, Toff gets going” - his words of encouragement to Made in Chelsea’s Georgia Toffolo - was another dreadful classic.

But it wasn’t all jokes: he also formed strong relationships while in the camp, getting on so well with Toff sp,e 54 years his junior that his departure left her in tears. Stanley, for his part, admitted she was his preferred winner. “Age is not a barrier for people to have things in common,” he said of this unlikely friendship.

And have things in common they do: The Lady magazine, for which Toff works, was formerly edited by Stanley’s daughter, my mum Rachel Johnson. Toff is also a sucker for an older politician and Stanley fits the bill, having served as an MEP between 1979 and 1984.

But if Stanley and Toff were the token posh folk, the other contestants were quite far removed from the type Granddaddy tends to mix with. It’s hard to imagine him coming across anyone as clueless as boxer Amir Khan in the real world, for example. “Has a woman ever become prime minister?” was one gem of Khan’s that will no doubt have stunned my grandfather. But Stanley is no snob. Though shocked at Khan’s ignorance, he politely observed that “his mind is unsullied” and went on to spar and bond with him around the camp fire.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson predicted of his father's foray into reality TV: “I am sure he will do brilliantly." - Credit:  VICTORIA JONES/AFP
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson predicted of his father's foray into reality TV: “I am sure he will do brilliantly." Credit: VICTORIA JONES/AFP

However, when it came to popular culture, it was Stanley’s mind that turned out to be “unsullied”. Even I was shocked that he didn’t know who Madonna was. I didn’t so much cringe, though, as shake my head in fond wonder and despair. This was Stanley being Stanley, with no filter and no gloss.

But being guilty of being a little out of touch at times, doesn’t make him any the less close to his 12 grandchildren. We can talk to him for hours and have shared our best times with him on the remote farm where he and his six children - Boris, journalist and novelist Rachel, government minister Jo, PwC partner Leo, and also those from his second marriage - Julia, a musician and teacher, and Max, who works in finance - grew up.

When the show began almost three weeks ago, there were some who questioned why Stanley was there. They thought of him only as Boris’s father and saw him as an early leaver. They were of course wrong: not only has he had a hugely successful career himself as a politician, author and environmentalist, he defied expectations in the jungle and admirably held his own throughout. Indeed, he seemed to breeze through it, despite his poor maths and typical refusal to back down when he was wrong about anything.

But that was the thing about Stanley in the jungle: what you saw on TV was what you get in real life - enormously personable, hugely ambitious and never afraid to get his hands dirty. Especially if there’s a prize to be won.

His departure will leave the show all the less joyous, and he’s quite disappointed to have been booted out. But I know Granddaddy won’t sulk for long. He’s a Johnson, after all: he’ll pick himself up, dust himself off, and set about the next challenge with great gusto and humour.

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here is on ITV nightly, 9pm