I’m celeb royalty ...get me in there
But Tindall fears ‘hangry’ outbursts
MIKE Tindall – the first royal to join the cast of I’m A Celebrity – says he was convinced to join the jungle show by celeb pals James Haskell and Nick Knowles.
He also confessed the biggest challenge will be missing his kids and the risk of turning “hangry” on a diet of rice and beans. Mike, 44, married the late Queen’s granddaughter, Zara, in 2011. The couple have three children, Mia, Lena and Lucas. Speaking for the first time about signing up, the former England rugby captain said he took advice from former contestants and admitted he had been “on the fence” for a while. Holding a suit bag from a Savile Row tailors at Brisbane Airport, he said: “I have spoken to [former rugby player] James Haskell about it. He was one of the guys who said I should do it. So I took some advice from him. [Presenter] Nick Knowles is a good mate of mine, too. “I was always on the fence but I do think it will be good fun. I like groups of people and I like things that could be good fun. So let’s see, I might regret it.” Probed about reports he sought permission from the late Queen to sign up, he replied: “I don’t mind you asking, but it’s not something I need to tell you, is it?”
He is no stranger to TV challenges. In 2015 he was beaten by former Towie star Joey Essex in the final of the second series of The Jump.
But Mike was keen to play things down: “It should be good fun, why not? It is always worth a go isn’t it.” And his biggest dread? “Hanger [being hungry and short-tempered] is always going to be the worry.
“The family I will miss the most, of course.” Mike joins a host of other stars isolating on the Gold Coast ahead of the series including radio DJ Chris Moyles, England Lioness Jill Scott, Love Island star Olivia Attwood and soap stars Sue Cleaver and Owen Warner.
The new series kicks off next Sunday on ITV.
RUGBY legend Mike Tindall will be surrounded by microphones as he attempts to survive the Australian outback. Married to our late Queen’s granddaughter, there’s undoubtedly plenty of gossip he could share about the Royal Family if he chose to.
But we’re sure he’ll be the soul of discretion – and avoid following in the footsteps of his wife’s outspoken cousin, Prince Harry.