Carl Fogarty has told this year’s campmates to expect a life-changing experience a decade after he was crowned King of the Jungle.
The four-time world superbike champion roared to success during the 2014 edition of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! beating Jake Quickenden and Melanie Sykes to the title.
Now as a host of new faces prepare to adapt to Jungle life, Carl reflected on his own experience and revealed he turned down the show three times before finally saying yes.
This year sees the likes of Coleen Rooney, Tulisa Contostavlos and Barry McGuigan entering camp, and Carl warned: ‘
It was three weeks of I’m not going to say hell but… it was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. To do all the challenges, live on rice and beans and keep the fire going, keep boiling the water and meeting people.’
He added in a chat with Bikesure, the motorcycle insurance broker: ‘I became a real team player and I learned a lot about myself. I wasn’t sure about going in at all, they really had to persuade me to go in.’
Carl Fogarty has told this year’s campmates to expect a life-changing experience a decade after he was crowned King of the Jungle
(L-R Tulisa, Coleen Rooney, Barry McGuigan, Danny Jones, Melvin Odoom, Oti Mabuse, Alan Halsall, Jane Moore, GK Barry and Dean McCullough) will enter the Jungle on Sunday
Carl continued: ‘I think they wanted the guy that was racing, that was angry, determined and focused and wouldn’t like other people and would kick off and stuff.
‘But I was never really like that away from the racing, I was just an ordinary guy from Blackburn.
‘I went in thinking I didn’t particularly like other people, I don’t like celebrities, I don’t like being bored and I hate being hungry. They were the things I kind of challenged myself to see if I could cope with in there and I really did cope really well with them all.
‘I was making sure everybody else was all right, especially the girls in there. I learned a lot about myself, I’m a nicer guy than what I thought I was – Michaela (my wife) said “I never recognised you in there”. It was an incredible experience, it really was.’
Revealing he nearly didn’t enter the Jungle, he confessed it took him a lot of persuasion to sign up for the show.
He admitted he said no, adding: ‘They came asking 15 years before that just after I’d just retired from racing in 2002 and 2003. I said no because I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to do it.
‘They came back in 2013 and asked me to do it and I said I’d maybe do it next year because my mum wasn’t so well and I needed to look after her a little bit. It took a lot for me to say yes, it really did.
‘It would have been easier to say no, but I wanted a challenge and to test myself. King of the Jungle, it’s the coolest title I’ve ever had!’
Carl confessed in a chat with Bikesure, the motorcycle insurance broker: ‘I learned a lot about myself. I wasn’t sure about going in at all, they really had to persuade me to go in’
Carl shared: I learned a lot about myself, I’m a nicer guy than what I thought I was – Michaela (my wife) said “I never recognised you in there”‘ (pictured in March)
Reflecting on his success on the show, he added: ‘When I was announced as the winner I just dropped to my knees, I was gone, I was so emotional. It was like I’d won the world championship again all those years before.
‘It felt that good and I think I said at the time “it was kind of the best thing that’s ever happened to me”. It felt like that at the time but obviously the best thing was racing bikes and becoming world champion.’
Following months of speculation, Coleen Rooney was confirmed to be heading Down Under for the new series, alongside longtime soap star Alan Halsall and legendary sportsman Barry McGuigan.
Rounding out the lineup are Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse, Loose Women star Jane Moore, DJ Dean McCullough, Tulisa, radio presenter Melvin Odoom and podcast presenter GK Barry.
Stripped of luxuries and creature comforts, stars will have face a string of Bushtucker Trials in a bid to win food for the camp, and only one will leave as the King Or Queen of the Jungle.
Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles are also set to take part in the show, and are expected to be heading into the camp later in the series.
I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP
OTI MABUSE
Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: Professional dancer
FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.
DANNY JONES
Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: McFly singer
FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.
He is also a coach on The Voice UK.
BARRY MCGUIGAN
Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer
FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986.
GK BARRY
GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: TikTok star
FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.
DEAN MCCULLOUGH
ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp
AGE: 32
OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ
FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.
Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.
JANE MOORE
Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: Journalist
FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.
She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.
Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.
MELVIN ODOOM
Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021
AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter
FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.
He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.
COLEEN ROONEY
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: WAG
FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.
ALAN HALSALL
Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street
AGE: 42
OCCUPATION: Actor
FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.
Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.
TULISA
Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year
AGE: 36
OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge
FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.
In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss.
She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.