I’m a Celebrity’s James Haskell sheds light on what it was like as the first rugby player to make the trip Down Under.
I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! fans are eagerly awaiting the next series of the star-studded show, which is expected to return to ITV later this month.
Ahead of the new series, former rugby player and I’m a Celeb star James Haskell, who featured on the 2019 series alongside the likes of Caitlyn Jenner, Roman Kemp, Kate Garraway and Jacqueline Jossa, opens up about his time on the show.
In conversation with our online casino team, James sheds light on what it was like to be the first rugby player to make the trip Down Under. He candidly recalls his infamous struggles with the camp’s lack of food and explains why he has never watched his episodes.
James also reveals which surprising star he got on with the most, what hosts Ant and Dec are really like behind the scenes, and what advice he has for this year’s celebrities.
Is there anything you think stars should be cautious/aware of before signing up to the show?
What people need to consider is that you’re going to get very hungry. You need to know whether you have the resilience to sit around all day. People think that by giving people challenges, they’re making their lives harder. You’re actually giving that person the best experience. If you don’t get booked to do challenges, it is very boring.
People still ask me whether it’s like you see on TV. It is exactly like you see on TV, but way harder and way less food. They take 24 hours and condense it into an hour-long show. You’re there all day, waking up when the sun rises and going to bed when filming finishes. There’s literally nothing to do.
What kind of person do you have to be to succeed in the jungle?
You’ve got to be really resilient. If you don’t deal with boredom very well, you’re going to struggle. You have to be relaxed and not let people irritate you.
I enjoyed it because I was able to turn on that fraternal side and make sure everyone was okay. It was a bit like a pre-season camp in rugby. You’re going across to a foreign country, you’ve got terrible food, you don’t know where you are, you’ve got loads of people you’ve never met before, and you’re being put through your paces.
What is the hardest part of camp life?
You’re hungry, you’re bored, you’re tired, and everyone’s emotional and under pressure. People are missing home. It’s really hard to navigate, and you’ve got to be resilient to do it.
People think that by giving people challenges, they’re making their lives harder. You’re actually giving that person the best experience. If you don’t get booked to do challenges, it is very boring. You’re sitting around talking to people who are hungry and missing home.
They take 24 hours and condense it into an hour-long show. You wake up when the sun rises, go to bed when everyone wants to finish filming, and you’re there all day. You haven’t done anything. There’s literally nothing to do.
Which of your fellow campmates surprised you the most during your time in the jungle?
Caitlyn Jenner was amazing. She’d obviously been one of the greatest athletes in the world, she’d been on an amazing journey. It was really interesting to see what she was like, and she and I got on like a house on fire.
We were like an old married couple. We did everything together. She had hearing aids and hadn’t turned them up, so she couldn’t really hear me a lot of the time. I’d be like, “Caitlyn, Caitlyn,” and she’d say, “Why are you shouting at me?” I’d say, “I’m not shouting; you can’t hear me.” She’d wander off in a different direction. We were like an old couple.
I absolutely loved hearing about her journey. She told me how she used to drive around before her transition with a wig taped on and makeup, hoping not to get seen. It was really interesting because it’s a great lesson. It’s hard enough to be yourself, let alone pretend to be someone else.
Who did you get along with the most in camp?
Ian Wright was obviously a legendary footballer. I always wanted to get to know him, and we got on really well. We had lots of really interesting conversations about sport, honesty and relationships. A lot of it didn’t make the air, but it was really important to me. I think Ian is one of the most accomplished broadcasters. Roman and I got on really well, too.
There were people I got on with better than others, but I always got on with everyone. There are some people you’re never going to be best mates with, but as long as you respect them, that’s all that matters.
Everyone won’t always get along. How do you deal with tension in camp?
I spent my whole time managing things and making sure that when someone was having a tantrum, it didn’t impact other people. That’s what you do in sports teams. It’s about being a leader when you need to be. You get people who have been part of teams and know how to manage themselves, and other people who don’t know how to handle stuff. People forget that we’re all in a team.
Some people don’t do any chores. Some people refuse to help. But you can’t go on TV and say, ‘Could you get on with it and actually help me?’ You have to say, ‘Guys, I wonder if anyone would like to help me?’ Some people just roll over and ignore you. In real life, you’d be like, ‘Get up and help me.’ You have to be able to manage people and make sure their problems don’t affect everybody else.
How important is it to have roles in camp – and how does this change as the show goes on?
I think people forget that we’re all in a team. I spent my whole time managing things and making sure that when someone was having a tantrum, it didn’t impact other people. That’s what you do in sports teams. It’s about being a leader when you need to be.
Some people don’t do any chores, and some people refuse to help. You can’t speak to people in the same way you would in real life. You have to ask politely and hope they’ll help you. I was doing all the chores with everybody, but I was doing them all the time. You’re hungry and tired, so it becomes harder when you feel like you’re doing everything.
What about the IAC set surprised you the most? Is there anything viewers at home don’t see?
What people don’t see is that it’s actually smaller in terms of the area where you live than it looks on TV. They put bags on your head to drive you in and out of things, so you don’t get to see anything. Between challenges, no one talks to you. No one lets you know what time of day it is. You’re never allowed any extra food. It’s like a military operation. They’ve got security driving you around in blacked-out buses.
Every interaction is on TV, so they don’t really let you be on your own without being filmed and seen. They definitely edit people in a certain way that fits into the story. I’ve never watched it back because my experience of the jungle was completely different to what people experienced watching it. I have no idea what people saw, but it wasn’t my experience of it. You don’t know what time of day it is, where you are or what you’re doing. You’ve got no clocks.
Celebrities like most people forget that their problems aren’t everybody else’s problems. You get people who have been part of teams and know how to manage themselves, and other people who don’t know how to handle things. I spent my whole time managing things and making sure that when someone was having a tantrum, it didn’t impact other people. That’s what you do in sports teams. It’s about being a leader when you need to be. Some of that is what you don’t see. You just see the final edit.
Have you watched the show back? Was there anything major that they left out that you think we should know?
I’ve never watched it back because it’s not the show I remember. It won’t be, because everyone’s got their own storylines within it. TV producers are solely interested in creating content that engages people. They have to pick the best things and create narratives and environments. I don’t begrudge them for doing it. It’s what you’re going to do if you’ve got an opportunity to make something out of something.
The issue with reality TV is that you’re playing with people’s futures and livelihoods. You see it all the time with these shows, where people come out of them not realising they’ve made a complete fool of themselves or been edited to look like a fool, and they really struggle.
I don’t watch it back purely because I remember how it was. I’ve got a great memory and I want to remember it for the fun I had and the things I did. I don’t want to see it condensed down because there’s no point. I’ve never watched any of Celebs Go Dating either. Contrary to what people might think, I don’t watch myself back. I might ask people I value, ‘Did you see that? What did you think? Could I have done better? What’s the story?’ I just know it’s not good for me. I don’t want to see myself edited or interpreted.
Even on Celebs Go Dating, there was a bit where the producers had told me to ask loads of questions. Then, 10 minutes later, the experts came over and asked, “How do you think your chat’s going?” I said I thought it was nine. I gave it a seven, and they said, “Seven? It’s a two. It’s awful. You’ve got rubbish chat.” I was literally surprised. They were saying, “You look surprised,” and in my mind I was thinking, of course I look surprised. You’ve told me to ask the question. I wouldn’t normally ask someone what their party trick is. So, yeah, it’s a problem with that TV stuff.
Do you have a favourite memory from camp that we didn’t see?
There were some funny moments. Roman, Ian and Caitlyn, and I were all playing with a rolled-up bag, doing keepy-uppies and playing five-a-side. One of my favourite things was throwing the bag, trying to hit Roman Kemp in the private parts. There’s a scene where I throw it, and it hits him plum, and he just falls off the bench. Cait just puts her head down and starts shaking as we’re laughing. It was very funny. We had a feast one night as well. We won something, but it was difficult because three guys didn’t get any food. We went off and had roast chicken and food.
Obviously Ant and Dec make up a huge part of the show, how did you find them to be?
After meeting them, I thought there’s a reason they’re household names. I thought they were really nice, incredibly professional and really good at what they did. They were funny and brought a bit of lightness. They’re just really good at what they do. You can see that and understand why they do what they do.
Do you see much of them when the cameras aren’t rolling?
No, you don’t even see them when they come in and out of camp. You don’t really get to hang out with them.
Do you think the show could exist without them? Is there anyone you think is capable of taking their heirloom?
I don’t think you can replace Ant and Dec on that show. People can have a go, but the problem is whether anybody is any good as a replacement. People get attached and will immediately dislike the people who are coming on, even if they’re brilliant. It’s very rare you get people who can replace others and get the same level of popularity. When you’ve had a show going for 21, 22 years, it’s tricky.
The show without Ant and Dec would be a massive loss because they’re synonymous with it and they’re so good. I don’t know who you’d get to replace them. I think the show has a harder challenge because the more it softens in regard to animal rights, people complaining, and what you can and can’t do, that’ll be the killer as to how long it can last.
When it first started, they were eating spiders, bugs and everything else. Now people say that bugs have got feelings and you can’t do that. All it takes is one scandal or one thing, and it’ll fall apart. I would have thought things would be getting more extreme, not softer, but we’re in a world now where everyone doesn’t want to see anything that’s a bit dodgy or a bit hard. The honest answer is I don’t know whether it will survive, but Ant and Dec leaving would be a massive loss.
I’m a Celebrity is set for a new series in the Canadian outback, do you think you would find that more or less challenging than the Australian version?
It’s a hard one. I’ve not been to Canada, but it all just depends on the weather. In Australia, most of the time it’s a pretty self-contained area. You’re basically trapped in there, and the weather’s pretty good most of the time. You wouldn’t want to be out there in extreme conditions because that would give the show a very different feel.
Different locations and different places might spice it up. I’d be keen to give it a go anyway. It just depends on how much more you can get people to do without pushing the envelope. How much more is there left for them to try?
Would you ever consider going back to do I’m a Celeb All Stars in South Africa?
Yeah, I would, 100%. I would go into it with a very different mindset. I would be very relaxed. I’d just do what I did, support people and ask, ‘How are you doing?’
I wish I’d been more chilled because my experience was so different from the two-hour camp bully narrative. It just was never true in any way, shape or form. Having one disagreement with someone, and not even a disagreement, just pointing out that they were voting wrong, wasn’t a problem. If I went back into the show, I’d just let anyone talk about anything. I’d probably try to be a bit more relaxed and just walk off when I heard something that irritated me.
Outside of the challenges, what do campmates get up to? Did you ever get bored?
You’re sitting around day after day after day, waking up when the sun rises and going to bed when everyone wants to finish filming. Once you’ve eaten, you’re there all day. You haven’t done anything. There’s literally nothing to do. We were playing football with scrunched-up rice bags, making a ball so you could throw it and see if you could hit each other in the private parts. We were just playing stupid games. I was playing keepy-uppies and five-a-side with Roman, Ian and Caitlyn. You just have to find things to do.
Who would you like to see in camp this year?
It will be pretty interesting to see what Wayne would be like. I don’t know whether they’d have Joe Marler, because normally people like you to have a bit of a break between doing reality shows. That’s the kind of unwritten rule people talk about. Joe would be really interesting in the jungle. I think he’d be quite good at it.
Are your reality TV days over, or are there any similar shows you’d like to do in the future?
There are certain shows I wouldn’t do, but some I would definitely do. The Traitors is definitely one of them. I’d also go back and do I’m a Celeb All Stars, 100%. I’d go into it with a very different mindset and just be relaxed, support people and get on with it.
You’ve previously praised Henry Pollock and stated his importance for England at the 2027 World Cup, but do you think his ego could become a problem at some stage?
No, I don’t think so. Anyone who’s talking about Henry Pollock’s ego doesn’t understand the importance of having players with character and something about themselves. The fact that people are asking about that just goes to show how far we’ve got to come to being a bigger sport. Every other sport, particularly in America, survives with people who have personalities, energy, and talk themselves up. Rugby has got so much work to do.
I think he’s absolutely great. I’ve got no criticism. He’s got to play well and do what he needs to do, but that’s what people need. We need young players looking up to athletes so we can build the game. People who don’t want players to have an ego are just ridiculous.
Can Fin Smith live up to the level that we saw from Jonny Wilkinson?
Yeah, 100%. I truly believe that. I think they’re very different players, and I think the games are pretty different. As long as Finn Smith plays up to his full potential, that’ll be good without comparing him to Jonny Wilkinson. I don’t think people should compare two very separate things from two separate eras.
Every interaction is on TV, so they don’t really let you be on your own without being filmed and seen. They definitely edit people in a certain way that fits into the story. I’ve never watched it back because my experience of the jungle was completely different to what people experienced watching it. I have no idea what people saw, but it wasn’t my experience of it. You don’t know what time of day it is, where you are or what you’re doing. You’ve got no clocks.
Celebrities like most people forget that their problems aren’t everybody else’s problems. You get people who have been part of teams and know how to manage themselves, and other people who don’t know how to handle things. I spent my whole time managing things and making sure that when someone was having a tantrum, it didn’t impact other people. That’s what you do in sports teams. It’s about being a leader when you need to be. Some of that is what you don’t see. You just see the final edit.
Have you watched the show back? Was there anything major that they left out that you think we should know?
I’ve never watched it back because it’s not the show I remember. It won’t be, because everyone’s got their own storylines within it. TV producers are solely interested in creating content that engages people. They have to pick the best things and create narratives and environments. I don’t begrudge them for doing it. It’s what you’re going to do if you’ve got an opportunity to make something out of something.
The issue with reality TV is that you’re playing with people’s futures and livelihoods. You see it all the time with these shows, where people come out of them not realising they’ve made a complete fool of themselves or been edited to look like a fool, and they really struggle.
I don’t watch it back purely because I remember how it was. I’ve got a great memory and I want to remember it for the fun I had and the things I did. I don’t want to see it condensed down because there’s no point. I’ve never watched any of Celebs Go Dating either. Contrary to what people might think, I don’t watch myself back. I might ask people I value, ‘Did you see that? What did you think? Could I have done better? What’s the story?’ I just know it’s not good for me. I don’t want to see myself edited or interpreted.
Even on Celebs Go Dating, there was a bit where the producers had told me to ask loads of questions. Then, 10 minutes later, the experts came over and asked, ‘How do you think your chat’s going?’ I said I thought it was nine. I gave it a seven, and they said, ‘Seven? It’s a two. It’s awful. You’ve got rubbish chat.’ I was literally surprised. They were saying, ‘You look surprised,’ and in my mind I was thinking, of course I look surprised. You’ve told me to ask the question. I wouldn’t normally ask someone what their party trick is. So, yeah, it’s a problem with that TV stuff.
Do you have a favourite memory from camp that we didn’t see?
There were some funny moments. Roman, Ian and Caitlyn, and I were all playing with a rolled-up bag, doing keepy-uppies and playing five-a-side. One of my favourite things was throwing the bag, trying to hit Roman Kemp in the private parts. There’s a scene where I throw it, and it hits him plum, and he just falls off the bench. Kate just puts her head down and starts shaking as we’re laughing. It was very funny. We had a feast one night as well. We won something, but it was difficult because three guys didn’t get any food. We went off and had roast chicken and food.
Obviously Ant and Dec make up a huge part of the show; how did you find them to be?
After meeting them, I thought there’s a reason they’re household names. I thought they were really nice, incredibly professional and really good at what they did. They were funny and brought a bit of lightness. They’re just really good at what they do. You can see that and understand why they do what they do.
Do you see much of them when the cameras aren’t rolling?
No, you don’t even see them when they come in and out of camp. You don’t really get to hang out with them.
Do you think the show could exist without them? Is there anyone you think is capable of taking their heirloom?
I don’t think you can replace Ant and Dec on that show. People can have a go, but the problem is whether anybody is any good as a replacement. People get attached and will immediately dislike the people who are coming on, even if they’re brilliant. It’s very rare you get people who can replace others and get the same level of popularity. When you’ve had a show going for 21, 22 years, it’s tricky.
The show without Ant and Dec would be a massive loss because they’re synonymous with it and they’re so good. I don’t know who you’d get to replace them. I think the show has a harder challenge because the more it softens in regard to animal rights, people complaining, and what you can and can’t do, that’ll be the killer as to how long it can last.
When it first started, they were eating spiders, bugs and everything else. Now people say that bugs have got feelings and you can’t do that. All it takes is one scandal or one thing, and it’ll fall apart. I would have thought things would be getting more extreme, not softer, but we’re in a world now where everyone doesn’t want to see anything that’s a bit dodgy or a bit hard. The honest answer is I don’t know whether it will survive, but Ant and Dec leaving would be a massive loss.
I’m a Celebrity is set for a new series in the Canadian outback, do you think you would find that more or less challenging than the Australian version?
It’s a hard one. I’ve not been to Canada, but it all just depends on the weather. In Australia, most of the time it’s a pretty self-contained area. You’re basically trapped in there, and the weather’s pretty good most of the time. You wouldn’t want to be out there in extreme conditions because that would give the show a very different feel.
Different locations and different places might spice it up. I’d be keen to give it a go anyway. It just depends on how much more you can get people to do without pushing the envelope. How much more is there left for them to try?
Would you ever consider going back to do I’m a Celeb All Stars in South Africa?
Yeah, I would, 100%. I would go into it with a very different mindset. I would be very relaxed. I’d just do what I did, support people and ask, ‘How are you doing?’
I wish I’d been more chilled because my experience was so different from the two-hour camp bully narrative. It just was never true in any way, shape or form. Having one disagreement with someone, and not even a disagreement, just pointing out that they were voting wrong, wasn’t a problem. If I went back into the show, I’d just let anyone talk about anything. I’d probably try to be a bit more relaxed and just walk off when I heard something that irritated me.
Outside of the challenges, what do campmates get up to? Did you ever get bored?
You’re sitting around day after day after day, waking up when the sun rises and going to bed when everyone wants to finish filming. Once you’ve eaten, you’re there all day. You haven’t done anything. There’s literally nothing to do. We were playing football with scrunched-up rice bags, making a ball so you could throw it and see if you could hit each other in the private parts. We were just playing stupid games. I was playing keepy-uppies and five-a-side with Roman, Ian and Caitlyn. You just have to find things to do.
Who would you like to see in camp this year?
It will be pretty interesting to see what Wayne would be like. I don’t know whether they’d have Joe Marler, because normally people like you to have a bit of a break between doing reality shows. That’s the kind of unwritten rule people talk about. Joe would be really interesting in the jungle. I think he’d be quite good at it.
Are your reality TV days over, or are there any similar shows you’d like to do in the future?
There are certain shows I wouldn’t do, but some I would definitely do. The Traitors is definitely one of them. I’d also go back and do I’m a Celeb All Stars, 100%. I’d go into it with a very different mindset and just be relaxed, support people and get on with it.
You’ve previously praised Henry Pollock and stated his importance for England at the 2027 World Cup, but do you think his ego could become a problem at some stage?
No, I don’t think so. Anyone who’s talking about Henry Pollock’s ego doesn’t understand the importance of having players with character and something about themselves. The fact that people are asking about that just goes to show how far we’ve got to come to being a bigger sport. Every other sport, particularly in America, survives with people who have personalities, energy, and talk themselves up. Rugby has got so much work to do.
I think he’s absolutely great. I’ve got no criticism. He’s got to play well and do what he needs to do, but that’s what people need. We need young players looking up to athletes so we can build the game. People who don’t want players to have an ego are just ridiculous.
Can Fin Smith live up to the level that we saw from Jonny Wilkinson?
Yeah, 100%. I truly believe that. I think they’re very different players, and I think the games are pretty different. As long as Finn Smith plays up to his full potential, that’ll be good without comparing him to Jonny Wilkinson. I don’t think people should compare two very separate things from two separate eras.
