Boy George says he’ll be crowned queen of the jungle if he wins I’m A Celeb – and confirms he’s the highest-paid campmate on the show.
The Culture Club star, 61, told MailOnline it was ‘about time a gay man won’ – 15 years after actor Christopher Biggins, 73, won the title.
Speaking in New South Wales, Australia, before heading into the jungle, the 80s singer, who is reported to have been paid £500,000, vowed to be as “Boy George as possible” afterwards having paid the fee.
Plans: Boy George says he’ll be crowned queen of the jungle if he wins I’m A Celeb – confirms he’s highest-paid campmate on show
He said: “I’ll be a dear queen! Has anyone gay ever won? It’s time to bleed, no, we’re so fashionable now, gays.
“Listen, I don’t think you should go to a show like this if you don’t want to try your best.
‘It’s the same as walking on stage. I never go on stage and think I’m going to give a mediocre performance.
“I feel like I’ve been paid well for it, so I’m going to be as Boy George as I can be.”
Speaking out: The Culture Club star, 61, told MailOnline: ‘It’s time to win a gay man’, 15 years after actor Christopher Biggins, 73, won the title .
The Karma Chameleon singer revealed it was hosts Ant and Dec who convinced him to sign up for the show, which returns to Australia for the first time in two years on Sunday following the pandemic.
George appeared on Saturday Night Takeaway earlier this year and told Ant and Dec that I’m a Celebrity wasn’t possible because he’s a vegetarian, but the duo soon made it clear.
He said: “I’ve been asked a couple of times in the past. Then I went on Saturday Night Takeaway and heard that Ant and Dec.
‘Because they asked me ‘what does Karma Chameleon mean?’ And I said, “I never have to, I’m a celebrity” as a kind of joke.
What a mix: She’ll be joining the likes of Olivia Attwood, Mike Tindall and Matt Hancock in the jungle, adding to the typically unorthodox mix of characters.
“And then they said, ‘What would make you do that?’ and I said, ‘if you liked a vegan or a vegetarian,’ I think I said vegan, but I’m not a vegan, I’m a vegetarian. And they said we can , and I thought ‘oh shit’.
Weeks later, George checked in, and would later have Ant and Dec to thank for their fate in the jungle.
He added: “I spoke to Ant and Dec and you know how lovely they are.
“I decided to do it and then I talked to them, and they encouraged me, you know, like they did.”
Confident: Speaking in New South Wales, Australia, before heading into the jungle, the 80s singer, who is said to have been paid £500,000, vowed to be “Boy George as possible ” after the shout fee has been charged.
George is the first contestant ever to customize the jungle outfit worn by the cast, adding red polka dots to the khaki shirt and details to the hat.
He admits he did not get approval from ITV bosses before making the changes manually from his studio, and says he was surprised he got away with it.
‘Well, I didn’t ask for permission. I was sent the hat and it was too small. So I cut it,” George confessed.
“To be honest with you, they sent me two shirts. I didn’t think I’d get away with theirs. I just did. I actually don’t know if I’m going to wear it. They haven’t said yes or no.”
In addition to his music, George became famous for his sense of style and androgyny, but now he rarely dresses up and has learned from the age of 60 to accept himself.
He said, “Well, most of the time I get stripped, I don’t walk like I’m on stage most of the time.
“When I was 19 or 20, obviously, it always felt like that, you know, because there was more pressure.
“But I think as I get older, I’m more comfortable with who I am. “I don’t talk about Boy George like he’s a separate person to me.
Popular: I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! will return to ITV on Sunday night as the celebrities finally return to the Australian jungle after a two-year break due to the pandemic (pictured hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly)
“But when you dress a certain way, people react very differently.
‘If I’m not dressed up, I sometimes go to a restaurant; people can be quite rude.
“But the moment they know who you are, they soon change their tune.
“It’s a fascinating thing to look so extreme and then look so different without it.
Conditions: Boy George will be forced to sleep on a bunk, clean toilets and dodge poisonous spiders, as the stars of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! he will be tested with a record 24 grueling tests. Pictured: I’m A Celeb Camp 2022
‘Now I’m less nervous about it. So, you know, at this point, I don’t see myself as my image.
Boy George, who became a household name with hits like Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?, has overhauled his lifestyle over the past 10 years and says he’ll be bringing the practices he’s learned to rely on to camp.
He has been sober for 14 years, after struggling with addiction to heroin and cocaine, a chapter in his life he documented in the autobiography Take It Like A Man.
Now a Buddhist, George predicts his fellow campers will be intrigued by his chanting, mediation and yoga, as he details the various therapies that have helped him through the most difficult times in his life.
He said: “Throughout my life, I have done various types of therapy.
“In the last couple of years, I’ve been practicing what’s called the three principles, which is that it’s not really therapy as such, because it’s about how you manage your own thinking.
“I guess the best way to describe it is brainwashing, where you look at your reactions to things and a lot of it is about breathing before you react in today’s culture. Because we have these devices where we can insult people and we can respond to people immediately.
“At camp, I’ll obviously be doing yoga, and I’m singing, and I know that’s going to bother some people, so I’m hoping to find a space where I can do that because I think that’s going to keep me sane.”
I’M A CELEBRITY 2022: THE FULL LINEUP
BOY GEORGE
BOY GEORGE
AGE: 61
CLAIM TO FAME: Legendary pop star
PHOBIAS: Being afraid
ARE YOU MISSING ANY GREAT OCCASIONS? No, I go straight to the jungle after playing various festivals and concerts
CAMP ROLE: An in-house dietitian who assures everyone they’ll be fine on the jungle diet. And entertainer: I will sing!
BEST ATTRIBUTE: I am a very positive person and I don’t hold any grudges
DREAM CAMPMATE: It would be funny if my ex, Jon Moss, came on the show, but I don’t think that will happen!
CHRIS MOYLES
CHRIS MOYLES
AGE: 48
CLAIM TO FOME: Radio DJ
PHOBIAS: I am petrified of heights. I ended up carrying the bags when we took my girlfriend’s niece to Go Ape once as I am so petrified!
ARE YOU MISSING ANY GREAT OCCASIONS? A friend’s birthday, a wedding and Leeds United matches
CAMP ROLE: Cheerleader. I hope I can help shorten everyone’s boredom.
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Hiding food! I’m going to leave early soon and go into the jungle and hide noodles everywhere, then I’ll be everyone’s best friend!
DREAM CAMPMATE: Ant and Dec… let’s see how they do it for 24 hours!
SUE CLEAVER
SUE CLEAVER
AGE: 59
CLAIM TO FAME: Playing Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street
PHOBIAS: Don’t be ridiculous! I will not admit what I fear most!
ARE YOU MISSING ANY GREAT OCCASIONS? Coronation Street and we’re expecting another grandchild any day now, so I’m hoping it arrives before I leave for Australia.
CAMP ROLE: I’ll be more of a mom, that’s where I’ll fit in naturally.
BEST ATTRIBUTES: I can cook and I’m a good listener, so I hope to be a friendly ear for everyone.
DREAM CAMPMATE: Good Morning Britain’s Richard Arnold. He’s my TV husband and it would be lovely to have an ally in camp!
SCARLETTE DOUGLAS
SCARLETTE DOUGLAS
AGE: 35
CLAIM TO FAME: Presenter of A Place In The Sun
PHOBIAS: Spiders. There’s no point in lying about it! I have an irrational fear about them
ARE YOU MISSING ANY GREAT OCCASIONS? Just a vacation I can put off
CAMP ROLE: mother, cook and morale booster. I always like to look on the positive side of life
BEST ATTRIBUTES: I can cook and will be good at making sure everything is tidy at camp
DREAM CAMPAIGN: Mo Gilligan. It’s fun and I really like it!
BABATUNDÉ ALÉSHÉ
BABATUNDÉ ALÉSHÉ
AGE: 36
CLAIM TO FOME: Comedian
PHOBIAS: I am afraid of absolutely everything. Snakes, rats – I’m afraid of them all and I’m afraid of tests
ARE YOU MISSING ANY GREAT OCCASIONS? I was going on tour, but now we’ve postponed it until next year
ROLE IN CAMP: tension breaker. If I can break the tension anywhere it starts in camp, I will. We don’t have to fight because it will be a first experience for everyone
BEST ATTRIBUTES: I hope he brings some humor to camp
DREAM CAMPMATE: I’m a huge Arsenal fan so any former Arsenal player would be great. I’m really looking forward to chatting to Ant & Dec about football
MIKE TINDALL
MIKE TINDALL
AGE: 44
CLAIM TO FAME: Rugby Union player and married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall
PHOBIAS: I haven’t admitted to having any phobias, but in a weird way, I really look forward to participating in the trials!
ARE YOU MISSING ANY GREAT OCCASIONS? My podcast series and this autumn’s rugby internationals
CAMP ROLE: Morning motivator. I would like everyone to get along and have a great experience
BEST ATTRIBUTE: I am a positive person
DREAM CAMPMATE: Samuel L Jackson would be great. He has lived the life!
OWEN WARNER
OWEN WARNER
AGE: 23
CLAIM TO FOME: Playing Romeo Nightingale in Hollyoaks
PHOBIAS: Snakes!
ARE YOU MISSING ANY GREAT OCCASIONS? I’m a big soccer fan, so I’ll miss watching the World Cup kick off
ROLE AT THE CAMP: Animator and game coordinator
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Definitely not my cooking skills or brains!
DREAM CAMPMATE: Anyone from Leicester City…