Watch Tony Bellew talk about difficult moments in I’m A Celebrity jungle
What did you miss?
Tony Bellew has revealed the moment that he wanted to leave the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here jungle, saying: “It broke my heart.” The former boxer was delighted to come second after watching his new friend Sam Thompson crowned the winner of I’m A Celebrity in Sunday’s finale.
Bellew – who turned 41 in the jungle – shared that seeing his wife Rachael in the jungle “broke” his heart because he had missed her so much. The childhood sweethearts have barely been apart and they raise their three children: Corey, 18, Cobey, 15, Carter, 11. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he also talked about the difficulties he faced including his secret heartache over losing his nan.
What, how and why?
After leaving the jungle, he said: “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! He’s an amazing person. Anyone who doesn’t love him hasn’t got a soul,” he added.
While it was a difficult decision, Bellew admitted he would never quit because it’s the sportsman in him when he gave his first TV interview since his exit. During his appearance on Good Morning Britain, the retired sports star revealed he was grieving his nan and he also was gutted to miss his son’s birthday – breaking a promise to him.
He told presenters Ed Balls and Susanna Reid: “I’ll never quit no matter how hard it gets. I’m not gonna lie guys, it was difficult. I had good days, bad days, lonely times. I was going through a lot before I went in there with my personal life, losing my nan – my beautiful nan – and I missed my son’s birthday which I promised him I’d never do again after I retired but I did.”
However, he had the support of camp who rallied around him. Bellew said: “I had some brilliant people in there with me, some quality people, lovely people, I had Sam, I had Marvin, I had Frankie Dettori, I had Nigel, I had Nick, I had Fred. The girls were all queens. I’m very fortunate. I’ve got a loving family. I’ve got an amazing family, I really have. Whether it’s my side of the family or Rachael’s side, I’m on the way home.”
What else happened on Good Morning Britain?
Not seeing himself as a celebrity, Bellew said it was his friend who talked him into doing I’m A Celebrity. He said: “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.” He added: “Truth is I’m a normal person, you’ve just seen me and people like me for me.”
Read more: I’m A Celebrity
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
