He sings lullabies to strangers on trains, pens poems that reduce grown men to tears, and has quietly glued shattered families back together for decades… yet the world has only just discovered the REAL Tom Read Wilson.

As Tom Read Wilson waltzed into the I’m A Celebrity jungle as a late arrival last month, the nation collectively gasped. Who was this impeccably spoken, poetry-spouting gentleman with a voice like warm honey poured over velvet? Within days, the 39-year-old Celebs Go Dating receptionist had become the undisputed breakout star of the 2025 series – calming campmate meltdowns with his soothing wisdom, reciting Shakespeare around the campfire, and even slow-dancing with Ruby Wax in the bush pool in scenes that left viewers reaching for the tissues.

He finished as runner-up to Twitch sensation AngryGinge, but in the hearts of millions, Tom was the true king of the jungle. Fans flooded social media declaring him ‘the most wholesome man on television’, while This Morning snapped him up for a regular Agony Uncle slot just days after his eviction. But while the jungle showcased Tom’s eloquence and empathy, it only scratched the surface of the extraordinary human being behind the theatrical flair.

Now, in an emotional and deeply personal tribute, Tom’s lifelong childhood friend – who has known him since they were wide-eyed boys running wild on the grounds of a Berkshire college campus – has opened up exclusively to MailOnline about the softer, deeper side of the man the world is only just falling in love with.

‘Tom isn’t putting on an act,’ his friend, who wishes to remain anonymous to protect their private bond, tells us in a heartfelt Instagram post that has since gone viral, racking up thousands of likes from devoted fans. ‘He’s always been this way – a rare soul whose smallest gestures carry the weight of the biggest heart. He sings to strangers when they’re sad, writes poems that make entire rooms weep, and has this quiet way of holding families together when everything is falling apart. TV captures a fraction of him, but the real Tom? He’s magic.’

The friend, who grew up alongside Tom in the idyllic grounds of Bradfield College where Tom’s father Crispin was an English teacher, paints a vivid picture of a childhood filled with wonder and whimsy. ‘We’d spend holidays when the students had gone home turning the empty campus into our own adventure playground,’ he recalls. ‘Tom would skinny-dip in the pool without a care, then launch into impromptu performances of Shakespeare on the tennis courts. Even as kids, he’d stop if he saw someone upset – a groundskeeper having a bad day or a lost visitor – and he’d sing them an old jazz standard or recite a poem until their smile returned. That’s Tom. He sees pain in people and instinctively heals it.’

It’s this innate kindness that has defined Tom throughout his life, his friend reveals – long before he became the nation’s favourite receptionist on E4’s Celebs Go Dating, where his flamboyant greetings and profound dating advice endeared him to celebrities and viewers alike.

One story, in particular, left us reaching for the hankies. ‘There was a time when a mutual friend’s family was crumbling – divorce, grief, the works,’ the pal shares. ‘Tom didn’t just send a card. He showed up unannounced with a handwritten poem he’d composed overnight, tailoring every line to their pain. He sat with them for hours, listening without judgment, then sang them to sleep with lullabies he’d learned from his musical theatre days. That family credits Tom with pulling them through. He’s done that for so many people over the years – quietly, without fanfare. He’s the glue in so many lives.’

Tom’s love of language, which has baffled and delighted I’m A Celebrity viewers (remember when he described his nerves as feeling ‘fearful as a porcupine’?”), stems from those formative years immersed in literature. His friend laughs fondly: ‘His dad was an English teacher, so books were everywhere. Tom was born with a dictionary in his mouth, as his mum Juliette says. But it’s not posh for show – it’s genuine passion. He’d write poems for birthdays, break-ups, even pet losses. One he wrote for me after a tough teenage heartbreak had the whole sixth form in floods. Lines like “In the garden of sorrow, let kindness be the bloom” – pure Tom.’

And then there are the strangers. ‘Tom sings to them all the time,’ the friend insists. ‘On trains, in cafes, wherever he spots someone down. An elderly lady looking lonely on the Tube? He’ll serenade her with “Accentuate the Positive” – the song he auditioned with on The Voice back in 2016. A stressed mum with crying kids in a supermarket queue? A gentle lullaby until peace reigns. People think it’s eccentric, but to Tom, it’s just human connection. He believes words and music can mend anything.’

This softer side shone through in the jungle, where Tom became the camp’s unofficial therapist. He comforted tearful campmates during low moments, recited uplifting poetry during trials, and even penned personalised verses for evictees. ‘The nation saw glimpses,’ his friend says, ‘like when he danced with Ruby or counselled Aitch through homesickness. But off-camera, he’s even more profound. He’s the rare person who makes you feel truly seen.’

Tom’s journey to I’m A Celebrity stardom hasn’t been without challenges. Openly gay since his teens, he faced bullying but turned it into strength, embracing his ‘idiosyncrasies’ as he told PinkNews. His friend adds: ‘Coming out wasn’t easy in our small world, but Tom faced it with grace. He’d say, “The person who falls for you will love your curiosities.” That’s why he’s still single – waiting for someone who adores the full Tom.’

Post-jungle, Tom’s star is soaring. He’s landed the This Morning gig after hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard praised his ‘agony uncle’ vibe in camp. His books on etymology – including Every Word Tells A Story and Wonderful Words That Tell A Tale – are flying off shelves, with fans devouring his poetic explorations of language.

But amid the fame, his childhood friend worries the world might overlook the quiet heroism. ‘Tom doesn’t seek spotlight for his kindness,’ he says. ‘He does it because his heart is enormous. In a cynical world, he’s proof that genuine goodness exists. The jungle showed us the charming Tom – but the real one? He’s the man who’ll drop everything to sing you through sorrow or poem you through pain.’

As Tom himself might say, in one of his signature flourishes: ‘Kindness is the most eloquent language of all.’ And thanks to this touching tribute from the friend who’s known him longest, we’re finally hearing it loud and clear.

Fans have flooded the emotional post with messages: ‘This made me cry – Tom deserves the world,’ wrote one. ‘No wonder he’s stolen our hearts,’ added another.

Tom, ever humble, has yet to respond publicly – but knowing him, a heartfelt poem can’t be far away.