💫From humble Berkshire boy to jungle runner-up: How I’m A Celebrity star Tom Read Wilson shot to fame – but never forgot his roots in quaint village life and loyal support for struggling Reading FC
In the glittering world of reality television, where fame can be as fleeting as a Bushtucker Trial, few stars have captured the nation’s hearts quite like Tom Read Wilson.
The 39-year-old charm machine, with his cut-glass accent, encyclopedic vocabulary and unflappable politeness, stormed into millions of homes this winter as a late entrant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – only to emerge as the gallant runner-up to YouTube sensation Angryginge.
Yet behind the jungle khakis and the endless supply of sesquipedalian words (that’s long ones, for the uninitiated), lies a story of a boy from a sleepy Berkshire village who has risen to stardom without ever turning his back on his roots.
Born Thomas Read Wilson on November 12, 1986, in the idyllic rural surroundings of Berkshire, Tom grew up far from the bright lights of showbiz.
His family tree is deeply rooted in education – he is the son, grandson and great-grandson of teachers at the prestigious Bradfield College, a grand independent school nestled in the rolling countryside just west of Reading.
Generations of Wilsons have walked its hallowed halls, imparting knowledge to pupils in subjects from English to French.
Tom himself attended Bradfield College before moving on to nearby Pangbourne College, where he began to nurture his love for the performing arts.
His father, Tom Read Wilson Senior, was an English teacher at Bradfield, while his mother Juliette brought a theatrical flair to the family home.
The couple met at the school – a classic tale of young faculty romance – and raised Tom in a house on the campus grounds.
It was a happy, supportive childhood, filled with encouragement for the arts.
Tom has fondly recalled growing up in this academic enclave, surrounded by intellect and tradition.
But it was his passion for performance that set him apart.
After secondary school, he trained at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating in musical theatre in 2011, before honing his craft at Rose Bruford College.
Early dreams of stardom included pantomimes – he trod the boards in productions of Sleeping Beauty and Alice in Wonderland – and a bold audition for The Voice UK in 2016.
Singing ‘Accentuate the Positive’, Tom failed to turn any chairs, but he later credited the “flop” with opening doors, including his breakthrough role on television.
That same year, he joined E4’s Celebs Go Dating as the impeccably mannered receptionist, greeting nervous celebrities with his signature warmth and wit.
Viewers instantly fell in love with his plummy tones – which, despite rumours, are entirely natural, honed by his Berkshire upbringing and theatrical training.
“No elocution lessons,” he’s insisted.
By series four, he’d been promoted to junior client coordinator, and by 2022 to senior – becoming the show’s beloved “linguistic agony uncle”, dispensing advice and obscure words with equal measure.
His vocabulary became a viral sensation, with “word of the day” skits delighting fans.
Off-screen, Tom has guest-starred on everything from Celebrity Juice to Love Island: Aftersun, won Celebrity Mastermind with his specialist subject My Fair Lady, and even penned a book, On the Tip of My Tongue: The Perfect Word for Every Life Moment.
He reached the final of Celebrity Best Home Cook in 2021 and has presented shows on Channel 5.
But it was his late arrival into the I’m A Celebrity jungle in November 2025 that catapulted him to new heights.
Entering on Day 5 alongside Vogue Williams, Tom quickly became the camp’s gentleman – supportive, eloquent and unfailingly positive.
He formed a touching friendship with Ruby Wax, dazzled with accents, and tackled trials with grace, even serenading a snake in his trousers.
Fans adored his intellect and kindness; he was praised as “one of the most supportive campmates in ages”.
In the final, he faced off against Angryginge and Shona McGarty, finishing a hugely impressive second with 35 per cent of the vote in the head-to-head.
Over 13 million votes were cast – the highest in a decade.
Yet amid the fame and adoration, Tom has remained steadfastly loyal to his Berkshire heritage.
He comes from a family of die-hard Reading FC supporters – his brother is a lifelong fan and season ticket holder.
In early 2024, as the club teetered on the brink under controversial owner Dai Yongge, Tom publicly backed the fans’ ‘Sell Before We Dai’ protest movement.
Reposting images of demonstrating supporters, he tweeted: “Something must be done. The football club is one of the vital ventricles of Reading’s heart – responsible for jobs, revenue and identity! #sellbeforewedai.”
His words resonated deeply in a town where the Royals are more than just a team – they’re community lifelines.
Tom has also thrown his weight behind local causes, appearing at Reading’s The Oracle shopping centre last Christmas to promote the “Giving Tree” charity campaign for Connect Reading.
As he emerged from the jungle to a hero’s welcome, locals in Bradfield and Reading beamed with pride.
Here was their boy – eloquent, kind and famous – still championing the place that shaped him.
In an era of fleeting celebrity, Tom’s story is a refreshing reminder: you can take the boy out of Berkshire, but you can’t take Berkshire out of the boy.
With his star now shining brighter than ever, one thing’s certain – Tom Read Wilson will continue to accentuate the positive, one perfectly chosen word at a time.