Tony Bellew of ITV’s “I’m a Celebrity” faces a devastating family loss, prompting his departure from the camp to attend a funeral

 

Former boxing champion Tony Bellew shared that his time in the jungle has been tinged with sadness following the passing of his beloved nan, Rose, last week. The 40-year-old, set to join the I’m A Celebrity camp as a late entrant, expressed his sorrow over the loss of his “wonderful” nan, whom he considered akin to a second mother. Rose, aged 97, had eagerly anticipated watching him on the show.

Bellew disclosed that he committed to the Australian trip only after ensuring he could return home in time for her funeral, signifying the importance of being present to pay his respects to his cherished family member.

Tony expressed, “I committed the day prior to her passing, leaving no room for reconsideration. When I give my signature, I uphold my promise. In an ideal scenario, I would have refrained, but having already committed, I find myself here. Nonetheless, I shall return to lay her to rest on the 15th.”

I had planned to rebel if I couldn’t change the date of the funeral. But I can arrange the burial once I return. Speaking about Rose, whom he affectionately called ‘the boss of the house’ on social media, he fondly remembered her saying, ‘I’ll be able to watch that [I’m A Celeb] every night,’ when she was in a care home.

“It’s a strange feeling. She’ll be watching, wherever she is, doing her thing. She was a remarkable elderly lady, an absolute gem.

“Growing up in a single-parent household after my dad left when I was 10, my Nan played a significant role as my mum went to work. Your Nan becomes a second mother. She was lovely, with a heart of gold. Her absence will be felt deeply by all of us—my brothers, my mother, and even my dad.

“As a former world champion in the cruiserweight division and someone who triumphed over David Haye twice, my main motivation for joining the show was to create lasting memories for my children, who usually enjoy watching the ITV series from our home in Liverpool.

“My wife Rachael was also keen on the idea of a trip to Australia with our three sons. She reckons they’ll have a blast while I’m there, starving away.

“Despite my boxing background and love for Everton, I don’t consider myself famous. When I join the camp this week, I won’t be seeking a grand entrance or looking for conflicts.

He mentioned, “I reckon I’ll just blend in as one of the bunch. I’m easy to get along with, no qualms or troubles. Pretty chill, really.

“My missus jokes that I’m so laid-back, I’d doze off if I got any more relaxed. Always cool during fights though, loved it. It was my forte. Nothing rattles me. Nothing gets under my skin.

“Life was simpler when throwing punches earned a living. Now that I’m out, it’s trickier. It’s been ages since I took or gave a good hit. Can’t even recall who I last fought, and they didn’t leave much of an impression!

“The last punch I threw or took was back in that fight with Oleksandr Usyk in 2018. No plans to go down that route again anytime soon.”

Tony’s taken shots at Nigel Farage online before, calling him an “absolute maniac” for his immigration stance in 2022.

Still, he mentioned he’d give Farage a fair shake in camp, while also taking a swipe at current politicians.

Talking about Farage, Tony said, “He’s just like any other person, like me. Haven’t met him. So, among the other 11 in there, we’ll figure it out as we go.

“He’s another human. Just another individual. Hasn’t crossed me personally. You find ways to click with people.

“In camp, you’re all practically living on top of each other. Best to get along. Can’t see why anyone wouldn’t want that, making it a good, pleasant experience. So yeah.

“Politics? Not my cup of tea. Don’t fancy getting into that. Those who know about it seem clueless.

“I’m just easy-going. My world’s different from theirs. Don’t even consider myself a celeb, just a guy good at throwing punches.”

Despite his tough persona in the ring, Tony admitted feeling anxious about going into the jungle.

He relished a cuddle with a koala for photos post-interview, yet dreads encounters with other Australian wildlife.

He remarked, “There’s little that doesn’t make me wary, truth be told. Despite appearances, that’s the reality. I reckon things will sort themselves out.

“I mean, who enjoys rats? Who’s fond of mice? Who welcomes snakes? Who embraces cockroaches? No one, I’d wager.

“Find me someone who revels in those things, and I’ll find you an oddball. It’s bound to be an intriguing experience, to say the least.”