He may be heading into the grand finale of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – but NRL veteran Luke Bateman is more than ready for it all to be over.
Speaking to Daily Mail ahead of the live finale on Sunday, the former Bachelor star admitted he is well and truly done reliving his jungle journey.
‘Mate, I’m that sick of it,’ he laughed. ‘Like, I just want it to be off.’
Luke, 31, explained that while viewers are only now watching the final weeks unfold, for him it feels like ancient history.
‘We started filming in November, you know, so it feels like a lifetime ago for me, and now you’re still watching it on TV. It’s just like, ‘Oh, end this.’
But despite the fatigue, Luke insists he has no regrets about signing up for the gruelling reality series – even if it will be his last.
He may be heading into the grand finale of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! – but Luke Bateman is more than ready for it all to be over
Speaking to Daily Mail ahead of the live finale on Sunday, the former Bachelor star admitted he is well and truly done reliving his jungle journey
After first finding fame on The Bachelor three years ago, Luke said he was hesitant to step back into the spotlight.
‘Reality TV’s not something that I’m super interested in or keen on… I probably won’t ever do it again after I’m A Celeb,’ he revealed.
The difference this time was the format.
‘Because it was more of a challenge,’ he explained. ‘It’s not like The Bachelor or even Survivor in a sense. It’s more just you get to showcase yourself and meet new people, challenge yourself in funny, unique trials.’
And while his jungle chemistry with co-star and radio presenter Concetta Caristo sparked endless speculation among viewers, Luke was quick to shut down rumours of romance.
‘What you see on TV is exactly what it was,’ he said. ‘Our friendship is really beautiful and special to me… we continue to be friends now.’
He believes fans were too quick to sexualise what was simply a genuine bond.
‘People force gender and sexualise that simply because it’s a man and a woman instead of looking at it as two humans who really connected and formed a valuable friendship,’ he said.
‘Reality TV’s not something that I’m super interested in or keen on, and I probably won’t ever do it again after I’m A Celeb,’ he revealed
Luke also revealed just how brutal camp life really was – and that viewers only saw part of it.
‘It was a lot harder than I expected it to be, mainly from the physical aspect,’ he admitted.
‘We were genuinely starved. I was starved. Being a bigger athletic bloke, every single day towards the end, I was just like, ‘I don’t know whether I can get through the day.’
Then there were the relentless insects.
‘Every night we’d get swarmed by millions of these little bugs. You’d be trying to sleep and they’d just be landing on your face. Little things like that don’t make it to TV but they make it a nightmare.’
Despite whispers that tensions in camp were worse than what aired, Luke insists there is no lingering bad blood.
‘When you put people together in an area where they can’t get away from each other, they’ve got no food, they’re sleeping outside – their patience is thin and emotions are high. You’re always going to have friction. I don’t think anyone left with bad blood,’ he said.
As for his chances of taking out the crown tonight, Luke said winning would mean far more to his nominated charity than to him personally.
As for his chances of taking out the crown tonight, Luke said winning would mean far more to his nominated charity than to him personally
‘If I win, it’s not Luke Bateman who wins,’ he said. ‘It’s Farm Angels.’
Farm Angels supports struggling rural families across Australia – a cause close to Luke’s heart as he continues to run his business in Western Queensland.
‘The exposure and money they get really helps families in rural communities. They’re the winners.’
The finale also comes at a significant personal milestone.
Tomorrow marks 12 months since Luke gave up gambling – an addiction he says ‘destroyed’ his life.
‘Gambling destroyed my life,’ he said candidly. ‘I’ve seen the destruction it’s caused with me and my life. I’ve seen it happen with friends. It destroys people’s lives.’
Luke is now working with the New South Wales government on a campaign to raise awareness around gambling harm and hopes to become a spokesperson on the issue.
‘It’s something I really want to bring a spotlight to and try and break down the secrecy and fear around it.’
The finale also comes at a significant personal milestone. Tomorrow marks 12 months since Luke gave up gambling – an addiction he says ‘destroyed’ his life
He also confirmed he is completely sober from drugs, and now drinks only occasionally.
‘My relationship with drugs and alcohol now is fantastic,’ he said. ‘I hardly drink at all anymore. If I do, I’ll have one or two negronis and that’s it. The days of big binge drinking are done for me.’
While rumours have swirled about Hollywood producers and potential screenplays, Luke dismissed the hype.
‘I think that storyline’s a little bit overinflated,’ he said of claims A-listers are closely following his journey.
Instead, his focus is firmly on writing.
‘I really want to be an author,’ he said. ‘My first novel will hopefully be published at the end of this year. That’s all I’m focused on moving forward – just writing.’
Currently drafting the second version of his manuscript, Luke said books quite literally saved his life.
‘I would not be sitting here talking to you if it wasn’t for books,’ he admitted.
‘Books are an escape, a training ground. They take you away and give you a break when things are too hard. I want to make sure young men and women have books that can save them too.’
And in case anyone was wondering, no – he does not plan on binge-watching himself in the jungle anytime soon.
‘I haven’t even seen an episode of I’m A Celebrity,’ he confessed. ‘Between running my business and writing my book, I’ve got no time.’
With the finale airing tonight, Luke says he is proud of what he endured – but equally excited to close this chapter.
‘Reality TV – that’s me done,’ he said.
