13 hours ago
5
It was a just a little over five years ago that AngryGinge, real name Morgan Burtwistle, created his Twitch account, averaging six or seven viewers per stream for months on end.
An initial lack of enjoyment led to the Manchester United fan taking a break from the gig, which usually involved playing video games and shouting at his screen, before he thought he would give it one last shot at the big time.
March 2021 brought his return and a transformation from part-time to full-time streamer - and he never looked back.
Now, Burtwistle - or more likely, his alter ego of AngryGinge - is a mainstream name, but he is just getting started. Millions of followers, a cushty career and a player of the match performance on Soccer Aid has culminated on an appearance on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here - one of the biggest shows on television that he is among the favourties to win.
If you are one of the seven million-plus viewers of I'm A Celebrity each night, you will know by now that Burtwistle is from Manchester - or Salford, to be precise. He takes great pride in that, and great pride in his football team: Manchester United.
It was football that got his foot in the door with streaming. FIFA 22 was his game of choice, and his popularity led to him growing his platforms - from Twitch, to TikTok, to YouTube.
Social media star AngryGinge has made his way into the mainstream on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Initially starting out playing football video games, he started playing in charity football matches and appearing in more videos
As he continued to grow, the 24-year-old became more involved in activities away from the screen. He played in the Sidemen Charity Football match at West Ham's London Stadium in September 2023, and then travelled to Qatar to take part in Match For Hope 2024 at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
An EA Sports FC Pro Clubs team named Girth n Turf would only grow his popularity further online, with the likes of Luke Littler, Wayne Rooney and IShowSpeed all involved at various points of its journey.
Take your pick when it comes to Burtwistle's best friend. Fellow campmate and Brit Award-winning rapper Aitch, or teenage World Darts champion Littler.
He did have a bump in the road, though. When he made Girth n Turf alongside Yung Filly, it was initially a roaring success, but things came crashing down when Yung Filly was arrested over an alleged sexual assault in Perth, Australia. He denies all charges.
'Mad,' was how Burtwistle described the incident during a stream. 'I'm not going to pretend nothing has happened. I'm going to be open and honest as I always am. Where do you start?
'He's now obviously involved in legal proceedings and I can't comment on legal proceedings. You know how it is. Mad.'
Though a pin was put in that project, Burtwistle continued his career and carried on climbing. He played in more charity football matches. He took part in reality show Inside - only leaving because he accepted a ticket to the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City.
Burtwistle is a manager in Sky Sports' Baller League - a six-a-side football competition also featuring the likes of Maya Jama and Micah Richards. Last year, his team, Yanited, finished third and lost in the semi-finals. This year, they are currently seventh - with Sam Cox in charge while the main man is away.
The 24-year-old idolised Wayne Rooney growing up and has worked alongside the Manchester United legend
Ginge, real name Morgan Burtwistle, is best friends with the likes of fellow campmate Aitch (left) and Luke Littler
World Darts champion Littler (right) became friends with Burtwistle through their love of Man United and darts
Burtwistle won over fans on I'm A Celeb when he cried about missing his mum Michelle (left)
He has been mixing with the stars in the tournament - on match day one, which saw Burtwistle's Yanited lose 3-2 against John Terry's 26ers, the Chelsea legend came out rapping with ArrDee, repeatedly stating: 'Ginge is in trouble.' Me neither.
In July, though, he hit another bump in the road arrived when Burtwistle, alongside fellow creators Charlie 'Chazza' Clark and Samuel 'SamHam' Imie were arrested at the British Grand Prix for allegedly causing thousands of pounds of damage to a Racing Point car on display.
On a live stream, Clark climbed into the car, which wasn't being guarded by security. The trio were released without charge after being kept for what Burtwistle claimed was 15 hours.
His stock, though, continues to rise. He has been a major hit on I'm A Celebrity, showing his vulnerable side when he cried because he missed his mum and opening up to Ruby Wax about his girlfriend dumping him live on stream.
According to the betting odds, it's 50/50 and fluctuating every day in terms of who is the favourite to win the show between Burtwistle and Aitch. If he carries on the way he is going, though, Burtwistle will surely at least be in the final.
After that, who knows? We're in an era where more and more social media stars are entering the mainstream via reality shows - think George Clarke on Strictly Come Dancing, Niko Omilana on the Celebrity Traitors, and now Ginge.
Broadcasters are already battling it out to sign him once the jungle is done. Sky currently have his heart because of the Baller League, but the likes of BBC and ITV will be sniffing about too.
On Wednesday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity, Aitch joked that he and Ginge were gunning for Ant and Dec's job. The way things are going, that prediction may not be as crazy as you might think.
