“There’s Something of Paul O’Grady in Him”: The Remark About Tom Read Wilson That Has Viewers Feeling Emotional
Every season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! delivers big personalities, big arguments, and big laughs. But once in a while, a contestant emerges who touches viewers in a different way — quietly, gently, unexpectedly.
This year, that person is Tom Read Wilson.
And now, after a single comment made by one of his campmates, the nation has begun to look at him through a completely different lens — a lens filled with nostalgia, affection and something close to grief.
Because when you watch Tom move through the jungle…
Many viewers say they suddenly see Paul O’Grady.
Not the entertainer.
Not the household name.
But the spirit.
💛 A Presence That Slowly Revealed Itself
Tom entered the jungle with the kind of polished charm audiences expected: theatrical diction, warm wit, and a gentle flamboyance that felt almost old-world. At first, some viewers thought he was simply playing a character — a polished persona built for television.
But the jungle strips away pretense faster than any edit can.
As food dwindled, as tempers sharpened, and as exhaustion set in, Tom began to show something deeper.
Not performance.
Not poise.
Kindness.
Simple, consistent, unwavering kindness.
One campmate said quietly during a conversation by the fire:
“He’s not posh. He’s not eccentric. He’s just one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met.”
And that — fans now say — was the moment the Paul O’Grady comparisons became impossible to un-hear.
Because kindness like that feels rare.
And familiar.
🕊 Little Moments That Revealed a Big Heart
Campmates have shared stories viewers don’t always see:
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How Tom lowers his voice instead of raising it.
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How he notices when a campmate is struggling before they ever admit it.
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How he treats every animal in a trial with softness — even apologising to them before touching them.
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How he never competes for attention, yet naturally becomes the emotional centre of a scene.
One campmate joked, “Tom doesn’t survive the jungle. He blesses it.”
Another laughed and said, “You feel calmer just sitting next to him.”
These are tiny details, barely storylines — but they are the things that built Paul O’Grady’s legacy.
A warmth that cannot be faked.
A gentleness that cannot be scripted.
A humanity that cannot be edited into existence.
🌈 Why Viewers Say Tom Feels Like Paul O’Grady
Paul O’Grady had a unique gift: he could fill a room without overwhelming it.
He could be mischievous but never mean.
He could make people laugh and feel comforted in the same breath.
Tom has begun doing the same.
One viewer tweeted:
“He doesn’t just entertain you. He soothes you.”
Another wrote:
“There’s a safety in him — the kind Paul had. A softness that stays with you.”
It isn’t about mimicry or comparison of careers.
It’s about energy — the kind of soul both men carry.
A soul that calms.
A soul that listens.
A soul that shines brighter the less it tries.
💬 “He Reminds Me of Someone You Trust Instantly”
A fellow camper, unaware their words would echo across the internet, said:
“He reminds me of someone you trust instantly, even when you’ve only just met him.”
Fans repeated it, reshared it, layered Paul O’Grady’s name beside it — and suddenly the observation became a chorus.
Because both men possess that incredibly rare, almost old-fashioned gentleness.
A gentleness that makes the world feel softer for a moment.
🌟 The Heart of Why Tom Is Becoming a Fan Favourite
In a show built on chaos, hunger, trials and tension, Tom has become something else entirely:
A steady light.
A comforting presence.
A reminder that kindness remains powerful — even in a world that often rewards noise over nuance.
He doesn’t shout.
He doesn’t scheme.
He doesn’t perform cruelty for airtime.
He simply shows up, gently, fully, and without armour.
And sometimes, that is the bravest thing a person can do.
As one fan wrote:
“When I look at Tom, I see the very best parts of being human — warmth, humour, softness, compassion. I see the spark Paul O’Grady carried. And it moves me.”
Perhaps that is why, quietly and without trying, Tom Read Wilson has become one of the most beloved figures of the season.
Not because he reinvented himself.
But because he refused to be anyone but himself.