Harry Redknapp touched down in Australia yesterday to join the line-up for this year’s I’m A Celebrity.
But his arrival at Brisbane Airport raised eyebrows after the 71-year-old previously refused to travel Down Under for his actual job.
The former Tottenham manager was hired by Aussie team Central Coast Mariners as a football consultant in 2016.
But in a radio interview, Redknapp said he would not be visiting Australia in his new role because it was too tiring.
He told talkSPORT radio: “No, no, I won’t be going. It’s a long way.
“Thirty-odd hours on a plane. I came home the other week and it took me a week to recover. It’s a long way but it’s a fantastic country when you get there.”
But it seems the English football coach has changed his mind about the long haul flight as he touched down in the souther hemisphere on Sunday.
Asked why he signed up, the ex-Spurs boss said: “Why would I do it? It would be an adventure wouldn’t it, at my stage in life.”
He said he had “not really spoken” to son Jamie Redknapp or wife about his decision to go into the jungle.
Speaking before he came out to Australia, Redknapp suggested he would practice for the series camping in the New Forest near his Sandbanks home.
I’m A Celebrity arrivals LIVE: Stars confirm their place in the jungle lineup
In October quizzed on talkSPORT he said: I’m trying not to think about it all. I might go and sleep in the New Forest for a week in preparation.
“I’m not allowed to say…anything could happen between now and then. I wouldn’t like to bet one way or the other.”
Redknapp went on to admit he has spoken to his old player Neil “Razor” Ruddock on his time in the Jungle in 2004.
Harry added of his ex-West Ham defender: “He said it was the toughest thing he’s ever done. You could imagine Razor not eating for a month, it would have killed him.”
Other names expected to join him on the ITV show include BBC heartthrob Nick Knowles, Hollyoaks star Malique Thompson Dwyer, The Chase’s Anne Hegarty, Coronation Street actress Sair Khan, EastEnders star Rita Simons and Inbetweeners star Emily Atack.
Earlier in the day, former X Factor runner up Fleur East was the first contestant to land at the airport.
She said: “Life is a jungle but I like a risk in life, I like a challenge. If you don’t live on the edge you are taking up too much space. You have to do something to excite you.”
I’m A Celebrity will be hosted for the first time this year by Holly Willoughby alongside Declan Donnelly. His usual co-host and best pal Anthony McPartlin is recovering from drink and drugs issues. The Geordie lads have presented the show since it began in 2002.
Dec arrived in Australia on Friday and Holly landed in the Gold Coast a short time later, saying she was “excited” to be hosting the show with her close friend.
She also told how she had Ant’s blessing to work on the show, saying: “We’ve spoken and he’s happy – he was part of the decision that I’d do it.
“He just needs to look after himself – that’s the most important thing. He knows I’ll look after the show and keep it warm for him. I know that next year I won’t be in the jungle.”
