RUGBY hardman James Haskell has claimed he almost keeled over in the Im A Celeb jungle before his eviction because he was so hungry.
The hulking former England ace, 34, said he had panic attacks, went dizzy and struggled to walk after having as few as 100 calories a day.
Wife Chloe Madeley is delighted to see husband James after his stint in the jungle
And he reckoned he was on the verge of needing medical help before his exit on Tuesday night.
But with his jungle nightmare behind him, James wants to remain a camp character with a new career as a pantomime dame oh, yes he does after doing drag with Andy Whyment on the show.
Speaking exclusively to HOAR hours after leaving camp, James said of his diet restrictions: I was so hungry. I was unable to get off my bed and move.
I had physical ailments from where I went from 4,000 calories to 250 calories. That is starvation. That was the biggest shock.
James has been scoffing pizza since his exit from the show
I had nothing in my legs. Ive never had a panic attack before. It felt like Id done leg weights or 100 hill sprints and Id get up and go dizzy. Id have to hold on to the tree and hold myself up. Id walk 25 steps and be heavy breathing.
Contestants get basic rations of around four spoonfuls of rice and beans for each meal, with the chance to win more through trials.
James claims he lost nearly 2st during his 18 days in the jungle, adding: I did feel personally handicapped. I was starving.
I realise Im from a very privileged life but there were moments where I was like, This is the hardest thing Ive ever had to do.
James says he went from eating 4,000 calories a day to just 250
But now James is planning to take full advantage of his higher profile to land lucrative jobs alongside wife Chloe Madeley, 32 with a keen eye on doing panto.
During Tuesday nights show, he and Corrie star Andy were seen in drag as the Ugly Sisters for a jungle skit called Criteralla.
James told HOAR: I hammed it up for the cameras because Im desperate to do panto. I would love to be a dame.
I absolutely love acting, love playing around. Some people were like, Oh its a bit late, but I got to ham it up with Andy from Corrie and put on a northern camp accent. It was brilliant.
The rugby player wants a new career as a pantomime dame after dressing up with Andy Whyment on I’m A Celeb
I want to do it with Chloe. She can be the princess and Ill be the dame. Id love it.
But James said he played more of a fairy godmother role to some campmates, including EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa, 27.
HOAR revealed that she struggled in the first week after Myles Stephenson, 28, claimed her husband Dan Osborne, 28, had cheated on her with his ex Gabby Allen, 25.
It led to an unprecedented move by producers to allow her and Dan to communicate via a third party.
James says Jacqueline Jossa’s emotional state in the jungle was on a rollercoaster from the start
According to James, Jacquelines emotional state was on a rollercoaster from the start.
He said: She was crying within the first hour of the show. She said shed been through a lot of hard stuff in life, I dont know about it.
She was saying she wanted to do something for herself. She wants to prove people wrong and make her daughters proud.
I think shes done incredibly well. I think shes shown herself to be an absolute hero.
Kate Garraway quietly struggled off-camera according to James
James also said Good Morning Britains Kate Garraway, 52, needed an arm around her shoulder as she quietly struggled off-camera.
He added: Kate talked herself down every single day I cant do this. Im not good at this. I dont look like this. And Jacqueline, I cant do this. Chloe has taught me so much about women and understanding stuff, being compassionate.
I would sit them down and say, Look, youve got to stop talking self-doubt. Please stop talking about yourself like that. Stop worrying about being fearful. She would come back and go, Ive shocked myself. I spent my whole time in there doing this, which they wouldnt have shown.
Some of what producers chose to screen and omit is a sore topic for James.
James wept when he was reunited with wife Chloe
He is frustrated by the suggestion he was been turned into this years villain in the edit, and baffled by accusations of bullying after his outburst during a Dingo Dollar Challenge drew Ofcom complaints.
He said: Sometimes you need an organiser and I bore the brunt of that by being that person.
My demeanour the whole time was really nice, really friendly, really calm. Ive never addressed anyone standing up because of my size. If I was being an a***hole in there, they wouldnt have cried or been how they were when I left.
And it wasnt only his campmates who had tears in their eyes, as James wept too when reunited with wife Chloe.
He added: Men showing emotion is so important. I didnt cry on our wedding day, but I saw her and it was just overwhelming how much I missed her.
However, it seems unlikely the couple will be apart much in future, with James saying: I would never do reality TV again. Ive done this its the pinnacle.
Maybe this will kick me on to different things. Maybe Ill fade into obscurity or get my head kicked in at MMA instead.
