He was the bookies’ strongest favourite to lift the crown.

But in a shock turn of events, rapper Aitch has become the final star to leave I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! just hours before the grand finale.

Aitch is voted out of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (ITV/Shutterstock)

The 25-year-old Manchester-born artist, whose real name is Harrison Armstrong, was voted out by the public on Friday night’s episode, as Angry Ginge, Shona McGarty and Tom Read Wilson were officially confirmed as this year’s finalists.

Aitch had entered the jungle widely tipped to go all the way, with many predicting he would battle it out for the title with his close friend Angry Ginge. Instead, his journey came to an emotional end — but not with disappointment.

Aitch has left the I’m a Celebrity jungle. (ITV)

Speaking after his exit, Aitch made it clear that for him, the jungle was never only about winning.

Aitch is the ninth star to leave I’m A Celeb in shock result as Angry Ginge, Tom Read Wilson and Shona McGarty are confirmed as this year’s finalists

“I’m genuinely happy with the journey I’ve had,” he said. “I came here to beat myself. And more than anything, I came here with a mission — to raise awareness for Down syndrome. Not just for my sister, but for everyone living with Down syndrome.”

His words quickly struck a chord with viewers, many of whom said his message mattered more than any crown.

Aitch’s main motivation for entering the jungle had always been to shine a light on Down syndrome, the condition his beloved sister Gracie lives with. And only hours before his exit, he experienced one of the most emotional moments of the entire series when he was reunited with his sisters Gracie and Hattie in scenes that left fans in tears.

The final three campmates have been named. (ITV)

Sitting down to catch up with their brother, Gracie told him: “We’ve missed you so much.”

Aitch later admitted he was completely overwhelmed by the reunion, telling Ant and Dec: “It was unreal. I was gobsmacked. I honestly thought they were fake at first — I had to touch them.”

He added: “For them as well, it’s a mega experience being here. In years to come they can watch this and say, ‘I was there.’”

Reflecting on jungle life, Aitch said: “It’s good to be in a world like this for a little while — no distractions, no phone. The only thing on your mind is what’s in front of you. That’s a pretty good way to live.”

Now Ginge, 24, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, faces the EastEnders’ actress Shona McGarty , 34, and Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson, 39, in the tomorrow night’s final

Earlier in the episode, Aitch also took on the Celebrity Cyclone, the show’s biggest and most demanding Bushtucker Trial, giving everything in what would turn out to be his final challenge.

He also addressed the infamous ‘sweet-gate’ scandal, after Kelly Brook revealed the trio had secretly eaten sweets they had won during a Deals on Wheels challenge. When asked about it, Aitch joked: “She tried to snitch — and she didn’t even snitch properly. If you’re going to snitch, you’ve got to go all the way.”

Despite leaving the competition, Aitch showed no bitterness. When asked who he wanted to win the crown, he backed his fellow Mancunian without hesitation.

“That crown needs to come back to my hometown — so it’s Ginge,” he said, while also praising Shona and Tom.

Speaking to Ant and Dec in his exit interview they asked him what it was like being reunited with his sisters. ‘Unreal, I was gobsmacked, I felt like they were fake I had to touch them’

During his time in the jungle, fans had speculated about a possible romantic spark between Aitch and Shona McGarty, but those rumours were later played down by fellow campmates, who insisted the pair were never romantically involved, despite Aitch admitting he had a “soft spot” for the actress.

Aitch also broke his silence on sweet gate after Kelly Brook revealed they had secretly eaten the sweets.

Accepting a place on this year’s show marked a major step in Aitch’s move into the mainstream after spending the past seven years in the alternative rap world. It was revealed this week that he is already in talks with BoohooMAN over a £1million clothing deal, underlining just how much his profile has grown.

With Aitch now out of the running, the final will be contested between Angry Ginge (24), Shona McGarty (34) and Tom Read Wilson (39), with the public set to decide who will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle on Sunday night.

And while Aitch may have missed out on the title, many fans believe he leaves with something far more powerful — the knowledge that his journey wasn’t defined by victory, but by the hearts he touched and the message he carried far beyond the jungle.