I’M A Celebrity’s Mike Tindall has revealed the romantic connection he and wife Zara have with Australia as he touched down for the new series.
The former England rugby star, 43, admitted the country holds a special place in his heart as he walked through arrivals.
Mike Tindall and wife Zara met in Australia
Mike pictured with Zara and their children in August
He said: “Australia is a special place yeah, I met Zara in Sydney. There is no holiday planned at the moment afterwards.”
Asked how his royal wife felt about the show, Mike went on: “She is fine, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it would I?
“I was always on the fence but I do think it will be good fun at the end of the day. That is the other thing, I like groups of people and I like things that can be good fun so let’s see. I might regret it.”
Mike will be the first royal to ever take part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Mike is married to the late Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips, making him the long-running show’s first-ever royal family signing.
Wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, Mike told HOAR: “It’s probably one of the longest times we’ve been away completely with no communication. When you go away you still have communication, so that’s obviously going to be the hardest bit.
“You’ve just got to get your head around doing what you’re doing and try and win some stars and stuff and see where you go from there. I want to win stars because I want to eat!
“The hanger is always going to be the biggest thing you have got to worry about but I’ve also got three kids, so dealing with lack of sleep comes with the territory.”
His role on the show means that, if successful, Mike could be ‘King of the Jungle’ before King Charles’ coronation.
But the dad-of-three laughed: “I’m not really thinking about that to be honest.”
He added that he had “no idea” if Princes William and Harry would be tuning in to watch him face Bushtucker Trials.
Mike joins the stars who have already arrived on the Gold Coast ready to meet Ant and Dec in the jungle camp, including radio DJ Chris Moyles and Love Island’s Olivia Attwood.
It isn’t the first time the Royal has appeared on an entertainment show, with him taking to the slopes for Channel 4’s The Jump and Bear Grylls’ Mission Survive in 2015.
Mike was a member of the English rugby team when they won the World Cup in 2003 and won 75 international caps and scored 14 tries during his staggering 17 year career.
He married Zara in 2011 at Canongate Kirk on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and the couple now live at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire with their children Mia, eight, Lena, four, one-year-old Lucas.
Mike retired from rugby in 2014 and was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his services to sport.
Mike looked happy to have finally arrived ahead of I’m A Celeb
