I’M A Celeb South Africa contestant Fatima Whitbread breaks down in tears and sobs as she makes an emotional confession tonight.
The Olympian, 62, opens up about her incredible life during this evening’s episode of the ITV spin-off show.
In a candid chat with Helen Flanagan, 32, and Carol Vorderman, 62, Fatima reflects on what life was like for her as a child.
The star, who was abandoned as a baby, is a retired javelin thrower who has won a number of Olympic medals over the years.
Fatima tells them: “In the children’s home when we were kids, we always had assigned jobs.
“We were always in that routine, we had to be, there was so many of us. The only way you got your pocket money was to make sure your jobs were done throughout the week.
“I had two people in my life, Corey and auntie Ray.
“Auntie Ray was an east end girl, she only lived down the road to me.
“I’d look out this little port window and watch when she went home because I’d be really sad.”
She continues: “This one day I decided to pick all the daffodils and I hid them behind my back and knocked on the door, when she opened the door I said: ‘Will you be my mum?’ I asked her if she’d be my mum and she said: ‘Fats, I’ve got to be mum to all you kids. I can’t always be here…’
The star has to stop talking as her emotions get the better of her.
Fatima manages to compose herself and continues: “What I’m trying to say is she taught me a lot about looking after the other kids – give and you receive.
“I think I’ve been in here too long, this is why I’m getting upset.”
This isn’t the first time that Fatima has spoken openly about her life.
During her stint on Celebrity SAS last year, she explained how her younger years have made her into the person that she is today.
Fatima said: “I was abandoned as a baby, and some would say left to die, in a flat in London, and a neighbour heard that baby crying for a couple of days and didn’t see anyone coming or going, so she reported it.
“The police obviously came along, banged the door down, rescued the baby and it got taken into hospital, where I stayed for six months.
“I spent the first 14 years of my life in children’s homes, I didn’t have any visits, I didn’t have any birthday cards or anything to indicate that there was anybody out there.
“I was fortunate to find the love of the Whitbread family at 14.”
- I’m A Celebrity… South Africa airs tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX
