FANS have been complaining about the lack of screen time for former Rugby Union player Mike Tindall but now one former campmate has revealed the reason behind this.
In recent days, there has been a noticeable lack of presence from Mike on air.
Viewers were expecting Mike to appear more on this year’s I’m A Celebrity
A royal expert thinks The Princess Royal would have been “amused” by Mike’s appearance in the jungle
But royal expert Jennie Bond – who was the runner-up in the 2004 series of the show – thinks she knows the reason.
And it’s all to do with the fact that the campmates have not wanted to delve into his private life out of respect for his blue-blooded relatives.
She exclusively explained to The Celeb Report: “I think he’s very, very popular in that camp. I think he’s the the anchor, the solid anchor, strong emotionally and strong physically. And I think they respect him.
“And because they respect him, they haven’t probed quite deeply at all. I mean, they could have asked him all sorts of embarrassing questions, but they haven’t they respected his privacy.”
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She added: “I think that’s a mark of their respect.”
Jennie, a former BBC Royal reporter, added that she thinks that Mike has been especially guarded whilst on the show.
She revealed: “I do think he’s quite controlled in most of what he’s saying.
“I think there will be moments, I’ve been watching him, when he’s biting his lip and trying not to get engaged in really political stuff.”
The TV personality added: “I think he has been very, very aware of the cameras, you know, you don’t see them all the time by any means, but if you’ve got any sort of common sense about you, you know, they’re there.”
Mike has amused viewers during his jungle stint however.
In camp, the star admitted that he almost fell foul of his mother in-law, Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, when he performed a provocative dance move at a party.
He subsequently ripped his trousers to reveal underwear emblazoned with the slogan, “Nibble my nuts”, to which Her Royal Highness replied “I’d rather not.”
But despite the seemingly “embarrassing” antics, Jennie revealed that far from feeling offended, members of the Royal Family are more likely to have enjoyed Mike’s tenure in the jungle.
The commentator told The Celeb Report: “The Princess Royal has a great sense of humour. She loves rugby herself, she knocks around the rugby crowds and she knows their humour.
“I don’t think she would have been the least offended.”
Jennie added: “I don’t imagine she’s watched every episode, but I think she would have dipped in and out.
“She’d have been quite amused by Mike, I don’t think anything he’s done would offend her or bother her.”
Jenny thinks the rest of the campmates have wanted to be respectful of Mike’s privacy
Jennie Bond came second in the third series of I’m A Celebrity in 2004
Mike is rumoured to have been payed £150,000 for his stint in the jungle
