I’m A Celebrity South Africa star David Haye has suggested things might get ‘saucier’ in this series of the ITV reality show, ahead of his second jungle entrance.
The 45-year-old former professional boxer competed in the 12th series of the competition show, coming in bronze place, behind EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks and Ashley Roberts – who is also returning to I’m A Celebrity all-stars this series.
Haye has already said he’s going in with a gloves-off approach and won’t even be against a touch of drama in the camp, under the watchful eyes of hosts Ant and Dec (who he said ‘don’t age’).
Ahead of the pre-recorded series airing this April, he recalled his first I’m A Celeb experience: ‘I was fortunate everyone was pleasant in Australia.
‘There weren’t any real antagonists who tried to wind things up. Maybe this time around it might get saucier and get a bit interesting (when it comes to drama)!’
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Haye has proudly said that, as for the infamous creepy-crawlies, he’s got nothing to be fearful of for his stint in the South African National Park.
‘When you used to get punched by giant men, a little bandicoot biting your hand isn’t going to bother you too much!’ he said. ‘I do feel more prepared this time, because I know what to expect, and the trials in Australia weren’t that physical for me.
‘I’m not worried by the trials in South Africa. A lot of boxers are badly injured, so unless you are going to get savaged by a lion – and I am sure that won’t happen! – how bad can it really be?!
‘Chuck a bunch of cockroaches or spiders over me, I am pretty sure I will be fine.’
Haye isn’t even phased by the infamous camp diet – it’s almost like he’s begging the ITV producers to up the ante on him – simply saying: ‘I was okay to be honest.’
He added: ‘For my whole life up until the age of 28, I had to maintain a specific weight. I had to lose weight, bulk up, strip down and I am used to having a calorific deficit. So that side of things was ok.’
The father-of-one, who is polyamorous, said he’s looking forward to not having his phone on him in the jungle, painting a picture of the show as a digital detox retreat – again, are producers sure he’s got the right idea of this?
‘You are constantly connected to a multitude of businesses, relationships, family stuff and there is always something happening. When you go in there, it all stops,’ Haye said.
‘You can think about different elements in your life, relationships and plans moving forward.
‘It stops the noise that I think people don’t realise is constantly there every time they pick up the phone, look at an email or look at text messages.
‘In the jungle, you don’t know what is going on in the outside world and your new world is in there with these random people you don’t know.’
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa returns to ITV in April.
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