First-ever I’M A Celebrity winner says show bosses secretly made Bushtucker tryouts more “intimidating” in recent years to “torture” the stars.
Radio legend Tony Blackburn insists celebrities face much “tougher” challenges these days than when he was in the jungle in 2002.
Tony Blackburn was crowned King of the Jungle in 2002[/caption]
The 79-year-old gave his thoughts on the latest series[/caption]
Sounds of the 60s star Tony said: “When I joined the first series of the show in 2002 it was a reality TV experience.
“We really had no idea what to expect, or even anticipated how popular the show would become.
“But these days, celebrities know what to expect and exactly what they’re getting into.”
England footballer Jill Scott has been crowned queen of the jungle in the 22nd series of the hit ITV show.
It followed a controversy with the signing of former Health Secretary and incumbent MP Matt Hancock.
iHus Ambassador Tony added, “The show has grown massively over the decades, but some of the challenges remain the same.
“There will always be hunger, sleep deprivation and boredom, and there is very little privacy with the cameras. Our bushtucker trials were very quiet by comparison, however. Now it’s like torture.
“Watching celebrities go through hell is one of the highlights of the show, but they’re a lot more intimidating and tougher now than they were – and all in the name of entertainment.”
Tony was speaking to The Sun as he promoted his new partnership with Doncaster-based iHus, the UK’s leading builder of granny annexes.
A long-time fan of the brand, Tony’s iHus journey began six years ago when he bought an annex to support his wife’s mother, Tony said: “With young people unable to afford to leave home and seniors at risk of isolation, more families choose to live together, and an annex allows you to keep your family close, while giving them independence.
“iHus was the perfect solution for me and our family. It was a lifestyle choice, and our annex gave us the flexibility we needed while providing support for older family members.
“It provided a sensible alternative to nursing home living and it worked with our own family living situation – you have privacy when you want it, you have support when you need it and you have the company whenever you want. I like this.
“I honestly believe that one solution to Britain’s aging population and the worrying cost of care would be to move to multi-generational living.”
