Mike Tindall is competing in I’m A Celeb for cash after work dried up in lockdown, claims pal

MIKE Tindall is tackling jungle life on I’m A Celebrity because he needs the money, a pal has claimed.

Sports presenter Alex Payne said that the ex-England rugby captain’s public speaking work had dried up during the pandemic.

Alex, 42, told The Celeb Report, that Mike, 44, was not as well off as people would think — despite being married into the Royal Family through the King’s niece Zara Tindall, 41.

He said: “It’s not like he’s sitting there in a pile of money.

“He’s a guy who’s in the public eye and that’s where he earns his money.”

Alex presents The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast with Mike and James Haskell, 37.

JUNGLE HELL

Mike & Jill take on tonight's Bushtucker Trial as Boy George blasts campmates

ROYAL TIES

Inside Mike Tindall's relationship with Anne & what Royals secretly think of him

He added: “Mike’s primary source of income is public speaking, and he goes out and does dinners.

“He’s on the sporting circuit but it’s worth remembering that the last two years haven’t been pretty much a day’s work for people in that sort of industry, entertainment and hospitality industry.”

Alex added that he didn’t believe Mike would be in Australia if it was going to cause family friction.

He said: “He would do absolutely nothing to jeopardise or create any sort of scenario in which he would be getting it wrong.

“He wouldn’t be doing it if it was a problem, I know that much.”

Alex has been amused by the amount of time his pal has spent in skimpy swimming wear on the show.

He joked: “I think there’s probably an opportunity for him if he wants to move into the world of budgie smuggler modelling.”

Alex believes Mike has not been out of his comfort zone so far in the jungle.

He added: “I don’t think he has found the show that much of a challenge; I think he’s been quite bored at times actually.”