Chris Kamara tears up as he talks about his Speech Apraxia
Chris Kamara has revealed he regrets not signing up for I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in the past.
The 65-year-old was diagnosed with apraxia in early 2022, a condition which affects his mobility and makes his speech slow.
His condition has forced him to pull out of a series of TV gigs as he’s stepped back from roles such as Soccer Saturday and Steph's Packed Lunch.
However, with the line-up of this year’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! being revealed this week, Chris admits he regrets turning down requests to star in the popular ITV show in the past.
In his brand new memoir 'Kammy', the presenter touched on how he would've liked to work with close friends Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly in the jungle.
Admitting that he struggles to watch himself on TV in his pre-apraxia days, Chris commented: “I have many happy memories to carry me through, such as the six years I appeared on Saturday Night Takeaway with the brilliant Ant and Dec.
"I’d have seen even more of them had I said yes to the regular requests to go on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
“But, I always turned the jungle down because of my commitment to Soccer Saturday and Goals on Sunday.”
The presenter revealed his intention was to star in the show once his contract at Sky had ended, although he’s now no longer in shape to join the series.
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He continued: “Neither my body nor mind could cope.
“I couldn’t face hearing the words, 'Chris Kamara is exempt from this task due to health issues.' No chance. It’s a big regret."
Although the 65-year-old isn’t appearing on the show, fans will get to see 10 new stars make their jungle debut on Sunday.
Some of the names include Josie Gibson, Marvin Humes, Sam Thompson, Jamie-Lynn Spears and Nick Pickard.
Another star entering the Australian jungle is former politician Nigel Farage.
Ahead of his jungle debut, he said: “I want to test myself. Business, politics, media, I’ve done so many different jobs and generally, I have been reasonably successful.
“But I have never been tested in quite this way. It’s such a mental test and maybe I will discover who I really am.”
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Airs Sunday on ITV from 9pm.
