Barry McGuigan has said "you have to be willing to do everything" as he prepares to enter the jungle in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
The former Irish boxing champion said he imagines he will be "one of the elders" and someone who would act as a "calmer downer" in the reality series.
The 63-year-old Monaghan-born sporting star has been confirmed in the line-up alongside Coleen Rooney, N-Dubz band member Tulisa Contostavlos, Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall, former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse, Loose Women's Jane Moore and McFly singer Danny Jones.
Speaking about going on the programme, McGuigan said: "It can be physically arduous, but it's the psychological part of it that I want to conquer before I get too old.
"I’m 63 now. I’d like to think I’m a young 63, but that doesn’t mean it’ll make any of these challenges easy. I’d rather do it when I’m 63, than 73, put it that way."
The former boxer said his wife Sandra would be his dream campmate.
"She knows me and we would bump along very well. She's an amazing girl," he said. "If you're going to encounter problems and issues, she is phenomenal. We’re 43 years married and I’m still madly in love with her."
Asked if he would refuse to do any of the Trials, he said: "I couldn’t refuse to do it. Once you’ve made the decision to get into I’m A Celebrity, you have to be willing to do everything.
"It might be disgusting and you might be tired, but being a fighter and being dedicated and committed to training and getting ready for fights… you have to go through hell, physically as well as psychologically.
"So, I know what I’m letting myself in for."
While he doesn't have any specific phobias, McGuigan said he will miss sweet treats in the jungle.
"That'll be the biggest challenge of all, learning to cope without food, with very bland stuff to keep you going and for just putting in the calories so that could be the most difficult challenge," he shared.
The sports star shares three sons, Shane, Jake and Blain, with his wife Sandra. Their daughter Danika McGuigan passed away at the age of 33 in 2019 following a brief battle with cancer.
He said his sons had some words of advice for him ahead of his I'm A Celebrity appearance.
"My sons, who I talk to all the time and ask for advice, I said, 'Should I do this?' They said, 'Yeah, dad. You’ve got good discipline, you’re good with people and invariably you’ll be aggravated and irritated and annoyed, but you’ve got good forbearance. You’re good at handling stuff like that.'"
McGuigan said he would "like to do well" on the show.
"I'm not saying I’m going to win, but I’d like to be in there for a sustained amount of time so that I can get to know all of the guys in camp," he said.
"I’d like to get a good experience out of it. I want to enjoy it. I’d be delighted to get to the later stages, put it that way."
I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! returns on Sunday at 9pm on Virgin Media One.
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