I'm A Celebrity star Mike Tindall has revealed details of the conversations he had with the Royal Family before signing up to the show
The former rugby player - who is married to Zara Tindall, the daughter of Princess Anne - will be heading to the Australian jungle with nine other campmates as the show makes it return Down Under for the first time since the pandemic. Mike is the first member of the Royal Family to sign up for the ITV show, with Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly taking up hosting duties.
Mike says he has the backing of his famous family, including his wife Zara and their kids - Mia, eight, Lena, four, and Lucas, one.
Speaking to The Mirror and other press, he said: "We did, well, I had a few conversations, but they're between me and them."
Mike says his wife Zara has been a huge support for him as he prepares for his jungle adventure.
"In the past I've done the Bear Grylls show and I did The Jump. She sort of knows I like throwing myself into things. She's been really good with it, to be fair. We've got a few things that happen in Australia, which tied in quite nicely as well. So it sort of made sense from that side of it. She's been good," he explained about his spouse's reaction.
Mike admits it has been tough being away from his family, especially during isolation as he prepares to head into the jungle.
He said: "I think myself and Zara have been good through our past. She goes away for weeks at a time and I used to go on tour and stuff, so we're used to having those periods where you were away. Mia was born in 2014 when I sort of retired, so we haven't really gone through that experience with any of the kids but they seem to be managing very well though on the phone calls that I've had."
The sportsman says it was James Haskell, former campmate, who convinced him to sign up for the show.
"It's been a conversation we've had numerous times over numerous years. Last year we got relatively close, but I think the deal breaker was being in Wales. Not quite the same. It's sort of been discussed for six to eight months this year," he shared.
"And obviously I spoke to James about it. We are doing some stuff out here anyway in Australia that we've got coming up, so it tied in quite nicely and you know, the weather's not too bad. We get to sit outside in the sun so you put it all together and it fitted in well."
*I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here returns to ITV on Sunday at 9pm.
