Joey Essex has won The Jump 2015. The reality star beat professional athletes, including Mike Tindall and Louise Hazel, to be crowned winner of the Channel 4 reality show during a special live episode on Monday night. "I thought it was going to be a nightmare, I didn't think I was going to survive – growing up I found it hard to learn things, but being on The Jump has proved I can," the 24-year-old said after taking home the competition's coveted cow bell trophy.
Joey Essex has been crowned champion of The Jump
"I never thought I'd be able to ski, let alone get to the final, and never thought I'd own a medal, let alone a cow bell. What is a cow bell by the way? Does it mean I need to get a cow?" In only his second ski jump of the competition, the TOWIE star managed a distance of 17.5 metres to beat former England rugby captain Mike and Hepthatlon champion Louise by just 0.5 metres. Mike, who was cheered on at Jump Mountain in Kuhtai, Austria by his wife Zara Tindall, née Phillips, said of Joey’s win: "When he has to do it, he does it."
Joey beat Mike Tindall by half a metre in the final jump
The final saw paralympic cyclist Jon-Allan Butterworth and Chloe Madeley – daughter of Richard and Judy – as the first two celebrities eliminated from the competition. Mike and Louise both jumped 16.5 metres, and so their earlier cross ski times were taken into account; Mike had completed the event in 23.56 seconds, and Hazel in 27.9 seconds, meaning the rugby star was safe. Made In Chelsea's Louise Thompson then took to the slope, and jumped 15 metres, but was knocked out when Joey jumped 15.5 metres with his first ever jump on the show.
The Jump 2015 celebrity contestants
For her second jump, Louise Hazel managed 17 metres, but was also knocked out by Joey, who surpassed her by half a metre. The TOWIE star was crowned the show’s winner when it was revealed that Mike had also managed 17 metres.