All about: James Haskell
Former England rugby union player James says the chance to take part in I’m A Celebrity came at the perfect moment after his rugby World Cup dreams were dashed earlier this year when he had to retire due to injury.
James – who enjoyed a 17-year career that saw him play for England, Wasps and Northampton – admits: “A lot of my team mates had said in the past ‘wouldn’t it be fun if you went into the Jungle’ but I always laughed as a) I thought nobody would approach me and b) I thought I was going to be in the World Cup but I retired sooner than I thought!”
Reflecting on his wife and in-laws’ reaction to the news he was going in the Jungle, James adds: “ I have a fantastic relationship with them (Richard & Judy) and they’re very supportive. They’re massive fans of the show and they’ll be out in Australia.”
“Chloe, my wife, thinks it’s fantastic too. She’s really excited and I think she’ll love it. But I’ll miss her a lot. We have been inseparable for five years and we speak two to three times a day.”
James says he’ll definitely muck in with all the jobs and may even try and train in the Jungle. But he knows he’ll divide opinion. James says: “I’m very aware I’m like marmite - you either love me or hate me. I created this persona amusingly for jokes about being a lad. But I’m not like that at all. I’m not going in to try to change perception. I just want to have fun!”
“I also think there will be an expectation that I’ll be good at challenges as maybe I look the part physically but I might be absolutely terrified!”