I’m A Celebrity’s Mike Tindall opens up about meeting wife Zara in Sydney and says they discovered they ‘both quite like getting smashed’ during their ‘boozy’ first date
- Mike Tindall has opened up about meeting his wife Zara in Sydney on I’m A Celeb
- Said they found they ‘both quite like getting smashed’ on their ‘boozy’ first date
- The ex England rugby ace, 44, met Zara, 41, who is King Charles’ niece, in 2003
Mike Tindall has opened up about meeting his wife Zara in Sydney on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and admitted that they discovered they ‘both quite like getting smashed’ during their ‘boozy’ first date.
The former England rugby ace, 44, met Zara, 41, who is King Charles’ niece, during England’s Rugby World Cup-winning campaign in Australia in 2003.
Speaking inside main camp, Mike told fellow campmates Babatúndé Aleshe and Owen Warner about first meeting his wife, whom he married in 2011 and shares three children, Mia, eight, Lena, four, and Lucas, one, with.
He also candidly discussed their first date, recalling: ‘First actual date, just went out for lunch locally. And ended up being quite a boozy one. Then we figured out that we both quite like getting smashed. It was a good start.’
Mike Tindall (pictured) has opened up about meeting his wife Zara in Sydney on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and admitted that they discovered they ‘both quite like getting smashed’ during their ‘boozy’ first date
Former rugby player Mike Tindall pictured with his wife Zara on their wedding day in 2011
Mike explained: ‘I was at the World Cup, she was out watching. I got dropped from the semi-final. I was p****d off and so I went for a beer with another guy who got dropped and a guy who was over [in Sydney]. They’d met her before and they introduced us and then got chatting.’
Owen replied: ‘So if you never got dropped you never would have met her?’
Mike said: ‘Best decision of Clive Woodward’s life.’ Owen added: ‘Thank god he dropped you.’
Babatúndé asked Mike: ‘How many years has it been?,’ to which Mike replied: ’18 years.’
Owen joked: ‘My longest relationship was 6 months!’ but the rugby ace said: ‘You are only 23 though.’
Speaking inside main camp, Mike (pictured) told fellow campmates Babatúndé Aleshe and Owen Warner about first meeting his wife, whom he married in 2011 and shares three children, Mia, eight, Lena, four, and Lucas, one, with
Mike has confirmed wife Zara will be flying to Australia to support him on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! ‘if it got to the end’ – and has warned him not to eat too loudly. The couple are pictured in June at Wimbledon
Babatúndé said of meeting his own wife: ‘First date, I want to say we went Nando’s. Most likely did you know… I think it was. Me and my wife we went to the same school.’
It comes after Mike confirmed wife Zara will be flying to Australia to support him on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! ‘if it got to the end’ – and has warned him not to eat too loudly.
The rugby star is the first member of the Royal family to compete in the ITV series, which kicked off on Sunday.
And his appearance has the full backing of Zara, but he’s told how the Olympic equestrian star has begged him not to embarrass her with his uncouth eating style.
Speaking from New South Wales, Australia, Mike, said: ‘We have some work out here so if it got to the end then hopefully, she’d be able to come out.
Mike (pictured) explained: ‘I was at the World Cup, she was out watching. I got dropped from the semi-final. I was p****d off and so I went for a beer with another guy who got dropped and a guy who was over [in Sydney]. They’d met her before and they introduced us and then got chatting.’
‘Zara told me to go and be myself, which is all you can be. She said to go enjoy and be yourself.
‘Zara’s biggest worry is how loud I am when I eat. She will be very happy if someone comments about how loud I breathe when I eat because it’s always a point that she brings up.’
Mike has fond memories of Australia. He was part of England’s victorious World Cup winning squad who beat the Wallabies in a pulsating final on their home turf in 2003.
Indeed, Mike has such a fondness for Australia he turned down appearing on I’m A Celeb while it was being filmed in Wales for the past two series, preferring to wait until it returned to its traditional home Down Under.
And he asked former England teammate James Haskell and ex-I’m A Celeb star for advice before signing up.
Mike (pictured) also candidly discussed their first date, recalling: ‘First actual date, just went out for lunch locally. And ended up being quite a boozy one. Then we figured out that we both quite like getting smashed. It was a good start.’
He explained: ‘They asked me while it was in Wales but Wales wasn’t that appealing to me. We come to Australia quite a bit for a couple of stuff that we do over here.
‘Obviously I chatted to Hask about it, and he thought I’d have quite a bit of fun doing it and then we have other commitments over here not long after, so it all fitted together well to make it worthwhile doing it.
‘What I expect from it I’m not entirely sure but hopefully if we have a good bunch of people in camp it’ll be fun, Hask said he had quite a bit of fun with it so I’m looking forward to it.’
Mike said he has ‘no phobias’ and believes he’ll make a good campmate given his history of playing in a team and acknowledging the importance of morale within a group.
He admitted his children, daughters Mia, eight and Lena, four, plus son Lucas, one, are too young to stay up to watch their dad in the jungle, but Zara will hopefully ensure they catch up in the mornings.
Mike added: ‘With the kids it’ll be the case of they’ll be in bed before the show goes out on a normal evening, so it’ll be down to Z to get them the highlights – only the good stuff probably.’
Babatúndé (pictured left) said of meeting his own wife: ‘First date, I want to say we went Nando’s. Most likely did you know… I think it was. Me and my wife we went to the same school.’
During filming for I’m A Celeb, Mike was pictured playfully tackling a blonde crew member as he killed time before heading into the Australian jungle for his first terrifying trial.
The former rugby ace put his arms around the worker and pretended to throw her off the pier and into the water.
Mike had plenty of energy after his isolation period and couldn’t stop laughing as he messed around in between filming scenes for the ITV show.
It is not clear if the woman – who was seemingly caught off guard – appreciated his antics as half her face was covered in a mask.
An onlooker told The Sun: ‘Mike cheekily ran up behind the pretty crew member before swinging her around on the pontoon. At one point he pretended to push her over the edge as he killed time while waiting to be taken to his first trial.
‘Mike was certainly bursting with energy after being cooped up in isolation for a week and is bound to be full of practical jokes in the camp.’
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! watch the next live episode tomorrow at 9pm (Tuesday) on ITV and ITV Hub
I’M A CELEBRITY 2022: THE FULL LINEUP
BOY GEORGE
BOY GEORGE
AGE: 61
CLAIM TO FAME: Legendary pop star
PHOBIAS: Being scared
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? No, I am going straight into the jungle from playing at various festivals and gigs
ROLE IN THE CAMP: In-house dietician reassuring everyone that they will be ok on the jungle diet. And entertainer – I will sing!
BEST ATTRIBUTE: I am a very positive person and I don’t bear any grudges
DREAM CAMPMATE: It would be funny if my ex, Jon Moss, comes on the programme -but I don’t think that will happen!
CHRIS MOYLES
CHRIS MOYLES
AGE: 48
CLAIM TO FAME: Radio DJ
PHOBIAS: I am petrified of heights. I ended up carrying the bags when we took my girlfriend’s niece once to Go Ape as I am so petrified!
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? A friend’s birthday, a wedding, and Leeds United matches
ROLE IN THE CAMP: Entertainer. Hopefully I can help shorten everyone’s boredom.
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Hiding food! I am going to fly out early and sneak into the jungle and hide pot noodles everywhere, then I will be everyone’s best friend!
DREAM CAMPMATE: Ant and Dec…let’s see how they cope for 24 hours!
SUE CLEAVER
SUE CLEAVER
AGE: 59
CLAIM TO FAME: Playing Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street
PHOBIAS: Don’t be ridiculous! I am not going to admit to what I fear most!
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? Coronation Street and we are expecting another grandchild any day, so hopefully it will arrive before I fly out to Australia.
ROLE IN THE CAMP: I will be more of a mum – that is where I will naturally fit.
BEST ATTRIBUTE: I can cook and I am a good listener, so hopefully I will be a friendly ear for everyone.
DREAM CAMPMATE: Good Morning Britain’s Richard Arnold. He is my TV husband and it would be lovely to have an ally in camp!
SCARLETTE DOUGLAS
SCARLETTE DOUGLAS
AGE: 35
CLAIM TO FAME: Presenter of A Place In The Sun
PHOBIAS: Spiders. There is no point in lying about it! I’ve got an irrational fear about them
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? Just a holiday which I can postpone
ROLE IN THE CAMP: Mum, cook and morale booster. I always like to look at the positive side in life
BEST ATTRIBUTE: I can cook and I will be good at making sure everything is tidy in camp
DREAM CAMPMATE: Mo Gilligan. He is hilarious and I totally fancy him!
BABATÚNDÉ ALÉSHÉ
BABATÚNDÉ ALÉSHÉ
AGE: 36
CLAIM TO FAME: Comedian
PHOBIAS: I am scared of absolutely everything. Snakes, rats – I am fearful of them all and I am dreading the trials
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? I was going on tour but we’ve postponed it now until next year
ROLE IN THE CAMP: Tension breaker. If I can break tension anywhere it starts up in the camp, then I will do that. We don’t need to be bickering as it will be a first-time experience for everyone
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Hopefully I will bring some humour to the camp
DREAM CAMPMATE: I am a big Arsenal fan and so any ex-Arsenal player would be great. I am looking forward to chatting to Ant & Dec about football
MIKE TINDALL
MIKE TINDALL
AGE: 44
CLAIM TO FAME: Rugby Union player and married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall
PHOBIAS: I haven’t admitted to having any phobias but in a weird way, I am looking forward to taking part in the trials!
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? My podcast series and the rugby Internationals this autumn
ROLE IN THE CAMP: Morning motivator. I would like to see everyone get on well and us all have a great experience
BEST ATTRIBUTE: I am a positive person
DREAM CAMPMATE: Samuel L Jackson would be cool. He has lived the life!
OWEN WARNER
OWEN WARNER
AGE: 23
CLAIM TO FAME: Playing Romeo Nightingale in Hollyoaks
PHOBIAS: Snakes!
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? I am a big fan of football so I will miss watching the start of the World Cup
ROLE IN THE CAMP: Entertainer and games coordinator
BEST ATTRIBUTE: It is definitely not my cooking skills or brains!
DREAM CAMPMATE: Any of the Leicester City starting 11!
CHARLENE WHITE
CHARLENE WHITE
AGE: 42
CLAIM TO FAME: ITV newsreader and Loose Women anchor
PHOBIAS: I am not sure what my fear factor will be because I’ve never had rodents, spiders and snakes crawling all over me!
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? My children’s annual school ball which I am gutted about
ROLE IN THE CAMP: Mum and cook. I don’t mind falling into that position
BEST ATTRIBUTE: I like to listen and talk. I love learning about people and I have a natural curiosity for people
DREAM CAMPMATE: Colin Murray and Richard Osman
JILL SCOTT
JILL SCOTT
AGE: 35
CLAIM TO FAME: Retired England Lioness
PHOBIAS: I don’t like rats and the thought of being underground fills me with fear!
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? The Men’s World Cup. I am going to find it weird not being able to know how the men are getting on in the tournament. Hopefully they will still be in the tournament when I come out of the jungle
ROLE IN THE CAMP: Helping hand. I like to help people if they aren’t having a good day
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Hard worker. I will always find a way to add value. I am also very honest
DREAM CAMPMATE: Another sports person would be great as it would be someone to bounce ideas off.
OLIVIA ATTWOOD
OLIVIA ATTWOOD
AGE: 31
CLAIM TO FAME: Love Island star
PHOBIAS: I hate the dark so I’m keen to avoid any challenges in the darkness
MISSING ANY BIG OCCASIONS? No, had the show been on air any later, I could have missed my sister’s wedding
ROLE IN THE CAMP: Clown. I was always the class clown at school and I love having a laugh
BEST ATTRIBUTE: I don’t take myself seriously and I have got a good sense of humour
DREAM CAMPMATE: A pop legend like Dolly Parton who has amazing stories to tell
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