Mike Tindall admitted the goodbye that he shared with his family on the Royal Estate was “emotional” as he headed off to star in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
He said that during their goodbyes, he was warned by his wife Zara, 41, to take care and to make sure that he eats.
Tindall explained that a few tears were shed during the parting, but said he wished there had been more sadness from his children.
READ MORE: I’m A Celeb star thinks British public will ‘tease’ Matt Hancock while in the jungle
Mike explained: “Obviously, it’s difficult but the saving grace is going to a country that we know very well, and Zara understands and gets it and that makes it a lot easier.
(Image: ITV)
“It’s one of those things with the kids I’ve had a couple of phone calls while I’ve been here. They say they’re going to miss you when you leave but when you ring them, they’re like ‘hi dad, bye’. Then they are off doing whatever they do.
“I expected there to be more tears than there actually are.”
On leaving her at home in Gloucestershire with the kids, he said: “Zara gets it and supports it – with both our careers, she goes away competing for weeks at a time and I always went on tours for three-four weeks in the summer, so our relationship has always been built to deal with that and we’re good at compartmentalising and finding ways to deal with it.
“Zara told me to go and be myself, which is all you can be. She said to go enjoy yourself 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. When your nose has been mangled as much as mine has it is just a byproduct.”
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Reflecting on the start of their relationship, which led to marriage In 2011, he said: “We did meet in Australia – it would been, now you’re testing my knowledge of what the dates should be. We would have met for the first time in November 2003. “
The couple now have three children, Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall – ranging from eight to one.
He added: “With the kids it’ll be the case of they’d 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.”
Asked if the family will be coming out to support him or offered any words of advice, he added: “We’re not entirely sure yet, we haven’t fully made that decision and it’s probably how deep into the show we go, and we have some work out here so if it got to the end then hopefully, she’d be able to come out and get some vitamin D in you.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Mike has been a target of ITV’s for several years for the show after appearing on Channel 4 sport reality show The Jump.
But he admitted he turned down the contract while the show was in colder climates.
He said: “The discussions started over a year ago. 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 and saying they were coming back obviously I chatted to Hask (James Haskell) 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 in.
“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.”
READ NEXT:
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
