Tony Bellew almost pulled out of going into the ITV jungle after he suffered a family loss.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, the former boxing champion isn’t actually on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! at the moment.
But Bellew will be soon as he enters the camp as one of two latecomers, alongside Frankie Dettori.
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The boxing commentator and Italian jockey’s entry was teased at the end of last night’s (22 November) episode.
Ant and Dec announced all 10 campmates – including the likes of Nigel Farage, Jamie Lynn Spears and Nella Rose - would be taking part in a new challenge.
And they’ll soon be surprised to find out Bellew and Dettori will be leading them in two teams at the ‘Scarena’ over the next few days.
While Bellew has admitted that he’s ‘in it to win it’ as he takes on I’m A Celeb, he was hit by tragedy as his nan, Rose, died just 24 hours after he signed his contract.
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The 40-year-old paid tribute to his ‘second mum’ as he revealed he only committed to heading to Australia once he’d confirmed that he could get back for her funeral.
He said: “I signed the day before she passed away, so there was no going back then. If I sign something, I honour my agreement.
"In an ideal world I would have left it but I had signed. I was coming, so I am here. But I am going back to bury her on the 15th.
"I was going to renegade if I couldn't move the burial date. I can bury her now when I get back."
Adding: "She was in a home. And she told my mum 'I'll be able to watch that [I'm A Celeb] every night'.
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“So yeah, it is what it is. She'll be watching, you know, from wherever she is and whatever she's doing. She was a diamond of an old lady. She was wonderful."
Bellew described her as having a ‘heart of gold’ and said that Rose will be missed by all of his family.
He admitted he'd not only signed up for the show to give his three kids some memories, but also as his wife, Rachael, fancied a trip to Australia with them.
Fair enough to be honest.
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The boxer said: “They'll be here having an absolute scream while I'm sitting there starving.”
While Bellew says he’s extremely ‘laid back’, he has previously had a run in with campmate Nigel Farage.
Back in 2022, he slammed the former UKIP leader on social media and described him as an ‘absolute maniac’.
Well, this could be interesting.
Topics: Im A Celebrity, Celebrity, TV and Film, ITV
Jess Battison