Harry Redknapp, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager who became a national treasure after winning I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2018 and placing third in the South Africa version earlier this year, has revealed the secret to success on the show. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star on LG's World Cup bus, the 79-year-old said the key is not pretending to be someone you're not.
Be Yourself and Enjoy the Experience
Redknapp explained: "Just be yourself, really. Enjoy it. You're not going to do or eat anything that's going to kill you. You are not going to drop dead." The former West Ham midfielder said that when celebrities relax and are themselves, the show transforms from a challenge into a powerful, positive experience. He added: "I've never been to one of those posh retreat places where you don't eat, but it was a bit like that. It was good fun."
Health Benefits and a Bounce in His Step
Redknapp noted that he felt healthier and happier as a result of being on the show. He said: "I remember walking through the airport on the way home and I had a bounce in my step. I think I lost about 12 pounds and felt really good." The weight loss and improved mood were unexpected bonuses from his jungle experience.
The Role of Editing in Success
Harry admitted he initially had no idea how his time on the show would go, as he had never seen it before. He assumed much of it would be staged: "I thought there'd be a caravan. You'd go and have a cup of tea, a biscuit and a bacon sandwich. I argued with my wife about it. I said, 'There will be—it's a TV show.' But she was right." He also revealed that one of the biggest factors in winning over the public is how the directors choose to edit the episodes. He said: "The TV guys, they cut and edit it how they want to. We had that with the last one. When I saw the way it was edited, you knew which way it was going to go."
