EXCLUSIVE: I’m A Celeb star Barry McGuigan cannot bring himself to watch the ITV show after starring on it last year alongside Maura Higgins and Tulisa Contostavlos
An ITV star has revealed he just can’t bring himself to watch I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! — even though he’s a former jungle contestant himself.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star in collaboration with Betway, Legendary boxer Barry McGuigan admitted: “I’ve tried, but I can’t. I watch five minutes and go, ‘Turn it off.’ I swear to God, I don’t know why but I just can’t watch it.”
He revealed the most he’s managed to watch this series is about ten minutes of fan-favourite Angry Ginge tackling one of the infamous jungle challenges. “I watched him when he was doing a task, but I haven’t really watched it properly,” he said.
Despite his lack of viewing, McGuigan praised some of the stars currently in the jungle. “Martin Kemp is in there, Ruby Wax is very funny. I’ve always liked her and have always been a fan of hers — she is hilarious,” he said. “Maybe it is the fact I have been through it and been on the show myself.”
The boxing legend also reflected on what makes the jungle experience so unique. “Well, first of all, it’s summer over there so it is lovely weather. In the UK we go into winter from autumn whereas over there it is summer so it is lovely in that sense, the weather is good. The jungle is crazy, and you have to get used to it and all of the plots. You think, ‘Wait a minute, what is going to happen next?’”
McGuigan also stressed that getting along with fellow contestants is key. “If you can get on with people, make your mark but be able to cooperate and be empathetic, sympathetic, understand people, then you’re fine,” he said.
He looked back fondly on his own jungle campmates. “I got on so well with Danny Jones. Colleen Rooney and I were really good, CK Barry is a lovely girl, Maura Higgins was fantastic. Melvin Odoom is just a brilliant guy. Reverend Richard Coles is naturally hilarious. Alan Halsall from Coronation Street, Josie Gibson, and Jeanette Manrara were all lovely people. I got on incredibly well with them all. Tulisa, who went out reasonably early, was lovely too. Every single one of them was easy to get on with. No fallouts. Not one.”
Despite his positive memories, McGuigan admits he’s wary of the current season. “Sometimes you can see relationships that might explode. I thought Jack Osbourne might have a bit of needle with some and thought that is likely to explode, but it hasn’t. I haven’t watched much this year. I don’t know why, I just don’t want to. I have no real idea as what is going on if being honest.”
Even a jungle legend like Barry McGuigan can’t always stomach watching the drama unfold from the comfort of home.
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.