Former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Iain Lee has made a startling revelation about his battle with addiction, disclosing that he suffered a relapse after 13 years of sobriety following his time on the ITV reality show.
The Downward Spiral After the Jungle
The writer and comedian, now 52, who finished in third place on the 2017 series, explained that the intense pressure of the programme and dealing with what he described as 'challenging' campmates triggered his return to drug use. Iain had been clean for over a decade through Narcotics Anonymous but had stopped attending meetings two years prior to entering the jungle, which he believes 'set the wheels in motion' for his setback.
'I went in 13 years clean, but not long after coming out, the stress of the show got to me,' Lee told the Daily Star. He took full responsibility for his actions, stating, 'I was in there with a bunch of a*******s, not blaming them it's my fault. I picked up again, it was totally on me.' Among the campmates he reportedly found difficult were Amir Khan, Rebekah Vardy, Dennis Wise, and Jamie Lomas.
A Long-Standing Battle with Addiction
This is not the first time Lee has spoken candidly about his struggles. In a September interview with The Guardian, he admitted to being 'incredibly obnoxious' and 'an a**hole' during the peak of his addiction, which he says derailed his TV career on shows like The 11 O'Clock Show. He revealed that cocaine gave him a 'false bravado' to mask his terror and that he has struggled to accept compliments about his work ever since.
The 2017 relapse was followed by another in 2020, when he broke over two years of sobriety. He described the experience on his radio show, noting the drugs made him feel 'a little bit buzzy' before giving him a headache and making him vomit.
Taking Responsibility and Looking Forward
Despite the challenges, Iain Lee emphasises his own accountability and his ongoing journey to recovery. He proudly announced that December 20 will mark five years clean for him. Looking to the future, he has suggested that I'm A Celebrity could benefit from having a specialist on hand who understands how the unique pressures of reality TV can impact those with addiction histories, to offer better support to contestants.
For confidential support regarding addiction, you can call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local branch. The Frank drugs helpline can be reached on 0300 123 6600.
