It’s official: the jungle is welcoming its newest celebrity. Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins joins the cast of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here Australia on Easter Monday.
While he’s known to many as the animated rugby union star, Nick has also made a name for himself in the world of television after several presenting roles and appearing in both The Bachelor Australia and SAS Australia. But when it came to joining the campmates on I’m A Celebrity, he admits it took some convincing.
“They [producers] have approached me five times [over the years]” Nick, whose arrival is sure to cause shockwaves in camp, tells TV WEEK.
Nick Cummins played on the Australian rugby team from 2012 to 2014.
The hesitation initially came off the back of his controversial run as the Bachelor in 2018, which garnered much debate from both the media and fans. But Nick, 35, says his “biggest fear is regret”.
“After doing a different show [The Bachelor], I never thought I’d do something like that ever again,” he says.
“Then SAS Australia came along [in 2020] and I really enjoyed it. Now with I’m A Celeb, there’s no drama or make-believe stories, just people taking on new experiences together.”
Nick and Alexandra welcomed their first child in 2022.
The former Wallabies player says he’s excited to enter the jungle but will miss his partner Alexandra George and their five-month-old son – aka “badger cub” – who arrived in October, 2022.
“My son is on the edge of crawling so I’ll miss that which is incredibly hard. But if you’re going to go, you have to give it everything,” Nick says.
“Becoming a parent is a game-changer. You realise all the immature things you thought were important actually mean nothing. All that matters is a smile on the kids face and a happy, healthy family.”
Nick has embraced family life with Billy.
As for what he fears in the South African wilderness, little comes to mind for the “experience junkie” – and that mindset could just win him the crown.
“I like to get amongst it, whether it’s jumping off cliffs or eating something you wouldn’t elsewhere,” he says. “It’s fun to take things on because that’s when you know you’re alive, living on the edge [laughs].”
While he’s sure to miss his loved ones during his time in South Africa, we can’t imagine a contestant better prepared to face the intense challenges than Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia airs Sunday – Thursday, 7:30pm, on 10 and 10 Play.
