Tom Read Wilson’s true character outside of I’m A Celebrity has been revealed by his childhood friend in a very lengthy post shared to Instagram on Thursday.
The Celebs Go Dating personality, 39, entered the jungle as a latecomer alongside Vogue Williams last week, with the duo quickly building strong bonds in camp.
And after sparking some reaction with his sophisticated accent and extended vocabulary, Tom’s pal of 34 years, Charlie Collins, has spoken about his compassionate nature.
She explained that when Tom was not singing around the home, he was always on side to say yes to helping people day to day.
Charlie also joked that she feared she put openly gay Tom ‘off girls for life’ because he was her first kiss.
Sharing a picture of Tom running through a field dressed in a suit, she penned: ‘We are so proud of this one in a million man @Tomreadwilson.
Tom Read Wilson’s true character outside of I’m A Celebrity has been revealed by his childhood friend in a very lengthy post shared on Instagram on Thursday
Tom’s pal of 34 years, Charlie Collins (pictured), has spoken about his compassionate nature and said he loves ot help others
‘I met Tom when I was four years old, when my mum and his mum became friends and @mirandareadwilson and I fused for life as besties, counting 34 years to our friendship!
‘Tom was my first kiss and I fear I was his and put him off girls for life. We used to perform as leads together in our school plays, but Tom, more sparkly and effervescent than anyone, was absolutely born for the stage.
‘When Miranda and I would be playing, Tom would be scaling octaves in his room, priming those vocal cords for all his performances!’
She continued: ‘In later life, Tom always said yes to helping with anything, whether coming to perform a Christmas song at the consignment store I was working in, going to read to the children at my sister’s school, coming to celebrate for my book launch or serenading all our guests at our wedding in 2022 with a hilarious poem. Tom is always there when you need him.
‘When his fabulous children’s books came out, he sent a copy to us and my son Ivo, (who’s almost 5) pours over them and I like to try and read the pages in Tom’s voice.
‘As a brother, well, words can’t describe what he means to Miranda and Jack and my goodness does he dote on and adore his fabulous mummy @cheesemanjuliette.
‘Tom frequently takes my mum and his mum out for champagne lunches, spoiling them both and filling up their cups with his hilarious stories and magical company. Tom is just so kind.
‘Tom, you were born to make others smile and in a world full of scary things, you are the sunshine and the spoonful of sugar we all need.’
She explained that when Tom was not singing around the home, he was always on side to say yes to helping people day to day
She added: ‘Watching you sing snakes into serene states, recite sonnets to your camp members in the bathing pond like some magical water-dwelling merman and generally dazzle everyone with your unique light has been mesmerising.
‘You are the yolk to our egg Tom! Tom for the win! At our wedding in 2022 with a tiny Etta obviously running after him!’
During his time in the jungle, Tom has proved to fans his voice isn’t put on as he continues to wow both viewers and his campmates with his array of impressive vocabulary.
When questioned by Aitch over where he gets his ‘lingo’ from, the Celebs Go Dating star attributed his language to his ‘wonderful dad’.
He explained: ‘He was an English teacher and he made it into stories all the time…. I’m not a poet at all, but I love the lyricism of it all.’
However, while Tom told the camp about his father’s profession, he didn’t mention how his parents actually met.
Tom’s father Crispin Read Wilson entered into a relationship with an 18-year-old pupil who went on to become Tom’s mother, Juliette Cheeseman.
Speaking on 8 Out Of 10 Cats back in 2024, Tom explained: ‘My father was an English teacher and that’s how I happened.
‘My maternal grandfather taught at the same school and sometimes the eldest girls of the faculty would date the youngest teachers.’
Shocked, Rob Beckett interjected: ‘So your dad was a teacher there and your mum was a child there?’
‘Well she was 18, coming of age. He was 16 years her senior,’ reasoned Tom.
Host Jimmy Carr then clarified: ‘He was 34 and she was 18.’
Nodding his head Tom added: ‘Yes. I never really thought about it.’
His parents have since separated and his dad has remarried.
He previously revealed, ‘I’m very close to my parents, but sadly they are now separated and my dad has remarried. My mum is a French teacher and a wonderful, zesty, rather naughty character.’
Earlier this week, Tom’s mum commented on his distinctive voice as she arrived at the airport in Australia on Tuesday.
She told the Daily Mail: ‘He’s very articulate. He was born with a dictionary in his mouth.
‘His father was an English teacher so that’s where he gets it from. He doesn’t get it from me, unfortunately.
‘He’s always been like that which is great. Sometimes I don’t understand what he says, but yeah it is good.’
