Sam Thompson officially joins the This Morning team for brand-new role as I'm A Celebrity winner says it is a 'real pinch-me moment'

Sam Thompson has officially joined the This Morning team for a brand-new role. 

The I'm A Celebrity winner, 31, has been rumoured to be the ITV's show next big star ever since being crowned King Of The Jungle. 

He is now due to start as a fully-fledged member of the team as a roving reporter in a role that will see him travel to Manchester. 

The TV star won over viewers last month when he appeared as a guest on This Morning, seeing him reunite with fellow campmate and pal Josie Gibson.  

Sam told The Mirror: 'I've always been a huge fan of This Morning and the energy and joy the show brings but talking to Josie about how much she loves being part of the This Morning family in the jungle made me want to join the team even more. 

'From being a guest on the show in December to now officially being announced as part of team This Morning... it's a real pinch-me moment. 

'I can't wait to get started, nothing beats the excitement of live TV!'

Meanwhile a source told the newspaper that the step could mark the start of 'something special' for Sam, who has already proven himself very popular with the British public. 

The role will see Sam heading up a team of This Morning regulars such as consumer expert Alice Beer and Lisa Snowdon as they head to the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester. 

There, they will help viewers with their concerns as part of an interactive experience called 'This Morning On The Road'. 

Vet Dr Scotty will also have a clinic, while doctor Nighat Arif will be offering medical advice. 

In December Sam featured as a guest on This Morning and even presented the Spin To Win segment alongside Josie and Craig Doyle. 

He proved so popular on the show that fans called for him to be given a permanent contract. 

Viewers insisted the TV star should become a main host of the show, with one penning: 'We need Sam for spin to win every day now that's what I'm talking about.'

Another said: 'Sam to host This Morning with Josie.' 

The former Made In Chelsea star scooped the title of Jungle King on the most recent series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, earning an enormous 56.64 per cent of the public vote. 

And TV bosses were quick to eye him up for a role on the screen. 

A TV insider told MailOnline previously: 'There is no one that loves TV more than Sam Thompson, he has proven that throughout his stint in the jungle. 

'The ITV viewers now love him back and after winning I'm A Celeb by a landslide, it makes sense to keep him on the channel and utilise his new profile.

'Producers are keen to get him on the show during days where Josie is presenting and then there's Marvin Humes too, it's important for them to nurture their talent once they have it.'

A source close to Sam added: 'The world is Sam's oyster career wise, and more broadcast is definitely part of the plan and a natural progression following the jungle.

'His popularity and personality lend perfectly to both daytime and entertainment formats, potentially a mix of the two.

'It'll be great to layer new exciting opportunities with his successful existing projects including his Staying Relevant podcast, which is touring in April, and his show on Hits Radio.'

Sam appears to be following in the footsteps of former Jungle Queen and his ex-Made In Chelsea co-star Georgia Toffolo, 29, who landed a role on This Morning after her I'm A Celeb win in 2017.