The I'm A Celebrity jungle will be getting its first royal campmate when Mike Tindall unrolls his sleeping bag under the Australian stars next week. The former rugby legend, who is married to the Queen's granddaughter Zara, has arrived in Brisbane ready for his stint on the hit ITV show.
He will join a host of stars taking part in the 2022 series, including Boy George, Olivia Attwood and Chris Moyles.
Many fans were surprised to see the dad-of-three on the line up given his royal status, which saw him play a key role in the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year - and he gave a rather blunt reply when asked if he got his in-laws' permission before accepting the gig.
After landing at the airport yesterday, the 44-year-old was asked: "Initial reports said you sought permission from certain members of the royal household, is that true?"
He replied: "It’s not something I need to tell you though is it."
During the chat as he walked through the airport, he revealed his biggest challenge on the show will be missing his kids and the risk of turning "hangry" on the jungle's infamous beans and rice diet.
He said: "It should be good fun, why not? It is always worth a go isn't it."
I'm A Celeb will be Mike's third reality TV show, having previously appeared on The Jump and Bear Grylls.
Told he could be King Mike of the jungle before Charles had his coronation he laughed and said: "I am not really thinking about that to be honest."
Tindall married the Princess Anne's daughter in 2011 and the couple has three children, Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall.
He said: "Australia is a special place yeah I met Zara in Sydney.
"Hanger is always going to be the biggest thing to worry about, but I have also got three kids so going without sleep goes with the territory. Again you are stepping into something you don't know.
"The family I will miss the most of course. This will probably be the longest time I have been away and then not having communication, that will be the hardest bit. But also you get your head around what you are doing and try to win some stars. I want to win stars because I want to eat."
Before signing up he also took advice from former contestants and admitted he had been "on the fence' for a while before agreeing to sign up.
Speaking as he waited for his bags at Brisbane airport, he said:"We will find out if Im good with snakes wont we? I hope I will be good at the trials but you don't know what you are going to get.
"I have spoken to James Haskell about it. He was one of the guys who said she you should do It so I took some advice from him. Nick Knowles is a good mate of mine too so I have spoken. to a few people.
"I was always on the fence but I do think it will be good fun at the end of the day. That is the thing, I like groups of people and I like things that could be good fun. So lets see, I might regret it."
- The new series of I'm A Celeb kicks off on November 6 on ITV.
