Boxer Tony Bellew has revealed the moment he almost quit I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The champion cruiserweight, 41, was runner-up in the 2023 series of the ITV show, losing out only to reality star and radio presenter Sam Thompson.
He was met by his wife Rachael, 40, and their four sons at the Marriott Gold Coast hotel after leaving the jungle on Sunday.
On Monday morning, Bellew appeared on Good Morning Britain to speak about his time in the jungle.
The retired sportsman said he went through a tough time in the jungle - admitting he almost left after his wife visited him just days ago.
He said: “I'll never quit no matter how hard it gets. It was difficult.
'There's one thing I can say and it's I'll never quit, no matter how hard it gets and it was tough in there'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) December 11, 2023
I'm a Celebrity runner up @TonyBellew explains that the jungle is the hardest challenge 🐞🐜🐛 pic.twitter.com/VqOE3eFhoh
“I was going through a lot before I went in there with my personal life, losing my nan and I missed my son's birthday which I promised him I'd never do again after I retired.”
“When Rachael appeared in the jungle it broke me for a good ten minutes. I wanted to walk out and leave with her.
“She told me I couldn't. It would have been such a disappointment for the kids. It broke my heart to leave her again.
“But I was going back to Sam!”
Speaking about how tough he found his three weeks in the jungle, Bellew added: “You're alone with your own thoughts and my mind isn't the best, it wasn't easy. It was very very difficult and you think to yourself, ‘What am I doing here?’”
The boxer also explained how a close friend encouraged him to go on the show, as Bellew didn’t think he was famous enough to take part.
“I've got a close friend called Mike. Mike talked me round to go in there. Nobody really knows me. I wasn't bothered. I wasn't sure if people would like me.
“My persona is I'm a maniac who punches people in the face.
“Truth is I'm a normal person, you've just seen me and people like me for me.”
He said he wasn’t too disappointed about losing out to Thompson, 31.
“He's an amazing person. Anyone who doesn't love him hasn't got a soul.
“10 days ago, I knew. I knew when I first met him, I've never met a person like him... He deserves it more than anything and I couldn't be happier.”
He said he relied on other campmates to get him through.
“I definitely think I was put here to be around Sam and get to know him, Marvin was a huge part of it as well, I can't believe he's not sitting here.
“Everyone was amazing... I know this is called I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! but I'm not one of them, a celebrity, and no one felt like a celebrity, they were just normal.
“It's the first time in my life I've sat with a bunch of strangers and just thought: ‘You're all sound people.’”
For his last trial Bellew had to take on “stakeout” and was strapped down to a giant plate where he was made to endure jungle critters and fish guts.
Bellew, who shouted that the challenge was “a disgrace” said the critters were biting his leg and added: “I’m someone else’s starter right now.”
After their last challenge the celebrities were rewarded with their dream meals and Thompson’s was prawns, wagyu steak, sticky toffee pudding, an Oreo milkshake and salt and vinegar crisps.
Politician Nigel Farage came third during Sunday night’s final.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Coming Out will air on Wednesday December 13 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
