Boy George will be crowned Queen of the I'm A Celeb jungle if he wins

2022-11-03

EXCLUSIVE ‘I’ve been paid well for it’: Boy George says he’ll be crowned Queen of the I’m A Celeb jungle if he wins and admits to being the highest-paid campmate this series with £500K

Boy George says he’ll be crowned Queen of the Jungle if he wins I’m A Celeb – and confirms he’s the highest-paid campmate this series.

The Culture Club star, 61, told MailOnline ‘it’s about bloody time a gay man won’ – 15 years after actor Christopher Biggins, 73, earned the title.

Speaking in New South Wales, Australia, ahead of going into the jungle, the 80s singer, who’s reportedly been paid £500,000, vowed to be as ‘Boy George as possible’ after banking the whooping fee.

Plans: Boy George says he’ll be crowned Queen of the Jungle if he wins I’m A Celeb – and confirms he’s the highest-paid campmate this series

He said: ‘I’ll be a Queen darling! Has anyone gay ever won? It is about bloody time isn’t it, we are so fashionable now, the gays.

‘Listen, I don’t think you should go on a show like this if you don’t want to do your best.

‘It’s the same as walking on stage. I don’t ever walk on stage and think I will give a half level performance.

‘I feel like I’ve been paid well for it so I’m going to be as Boy George as I can.’

Having his say: The Culture Club star, 61, told MailOnline ‘it’s about bloody time a gay man won’ – 15 years after actor Christopher Biggins, 73, earned the title

The Karma Chameleon singer revealed it was hosts Ant and Dec who convinced him to sign up to the show, which returns to Australia for the first time in two years on Sunday following the pandemic.

George performed on Saturday Night Takeaway earlier this year and told Ant and Dec I’m A Celeb wasn’t possible because he’s a vegetarian – but the duo soon put him straight.

He said: ‘I was asked a couple of times in the past. Then I went on Saturday Night Takeaway, and I felt like I was set up by Ant and Dec.

‘Because they asked me ‘what does Karma Chameleon mean?’ And I was like, ‘never having to do I’m A Celebrity’ as a kind of joke.

What a mix: He will join the likes of Olivia Attwood, Mike Tindall and Matt Hancock in the jungle – adding to the typically unorthodox mix of characters

‘And then they said to me, ‘what would make you do it?’ and I said, ‘if you did like a vegan or vegetarian one’, I think I said vegan, but I am not vegan, I am vegetarian. And they said we can, and I thought ‘oh s***.’

Weeks later, George signed up – and he’ll later have Ant and Dec to thank for his jungle fate.

He added: ‘I spoke to Ant and Dec, and you know how charming they are.

‘I decided to do it and then I spoke to them, and they just encouraged me, you know, as they do.’

Confident: Speaking in New South Wales, Australia, ahead of going into the jungle, the 80s singer, who’s reportedly been paid £500,000, vowed to be as ‘Boy George as possible’ after banking the whooping fee

George is the first contestant in history to customise the jungle outfit worn by the cast, adding red polka dots to the khaki shirt and details to his hat.

He admits to not getting approval from ITV bosses before manually making the changes from his studio – and says he was shocked to have got away with it.

‘Well, I didn’t ask permission. They sent me the hat and it was just too small. So, I just chopped it up,’ George confessed.

‘To be honest with you, I got sent two shirts. I didn’t think I would get away with that. I just did it. I actually don’t know whether I’ll be wearing it. I haven’t been told yes or no.’

As well as for his music, George became famous for his sense of style and androgyny, but he only dresses up now on rare occasions and has learned from being in his 60s to accept himself.

He said: ‘Well, most of the time I am stripped back, I don’t walk around just like I’m going on stage most of the time.

‘When I was 19 or 20 obviously, I always looked like that you know, because there was more of a pressure.

‘But I think as I’ve got older, I’m kind of more comfortable with who I am. ‘I don’t talk about Boy George as if he’s a separate person to me.

Popular: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! will return to ITV on Sunday night as the celebrities finally head back to the Australian jungle after a two-year break due to the pandemic (hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly pictured)

‘But when you dress up in a certain way, people react very differently.

‘If I’m not dressed up, sometimes I go to a restaurant; people can be quite rude actually.

‘But the minute they know who you are, they soon change their tune.

‘It’s a fascinating thing to have such an extreme look and then look so different without it.

Conditions: Boy George will be forced to sleep on a bunk bed, clean out the toilet, and dodge venomous spiders – as stars of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! will be tested with a record 24 gruelling trials. Pictured: The I’m A Celeb 2022 camp

‘I’m less uptight about that now. So, you know, at this point, I don’t sort of see myself as my image.’

Boy George, who became a household name with hits including Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?, has overhauled his lifestyle the past 10 years, and says he will bring the practices he’s learned to rely on into camp.

He’s been sober for 14 years, after struggling with heroin and cocaine addiction, a chapter of his life he documented in autobiography Take It Like A Man.

Now, as a Buddhist, George predicts his campmates will be intrigued by his chanting, mediation, and yoga, as he details the various therapies that have helped him through the tougher times in his life.

He said: ‘Well all through my life, I’ve done various types of therapies.

‘In the last two years, I’ve been practising this thing called the three principles, which is, it’s not really therapy as such, because it’s about how you manage your own thinking.

‘I guess the best way to describe it is mind laundry, where you kind of look at your reactions to things and a large part it is about taking a breath before you react in the current culture. Because we have these devices where we can insult people and we can respond to people immediately.

‘In camp, I’m going to obviously do yoga, and I chant, and I know that will annoy some people so I can hopefully find a space where I can do that because I think that will keep me sane.’

I’M A CELEBRITY 2022: THE FULL LINEUP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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