Brendan Fevola and ex-wife Alex are back together: She took me back so I can cook dinner

ONE-time footy bad boy Brendan Fevola has confirmed he and ex-wife Alex are back together, and says it’s “so I can cook dinner”.

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BRENDAN Fevola has confirmed he and ex-wife Alex are back together, and he says it’s “so I can cook dinner”.

Having avoided questions about the relationship before going into the South African jungle for I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!, the controversial AFL player revealed in a deep and meaningful conversations with Paul ‘The Chief’ Harragon that he finally listens to his partner.

Brendan and Alex

“When I moved back in, she’s like ‘Put the kids to bed’, and we’d sit out on the balcony and have a couple of glasses of red,” Fevola said.

“It is nice, and she just talks about her work (as a photographer).

“I used to be like, ‘Oh yeah yeah yeah’ but now I sit there and listen, and I’m like: ‘That’s amazing. We never used to do that sh--.”

The Fevolas were married in 2005 and are parents to three daughters — Mia, 16, Leni, 9, and Lulu, 6.

They’ve been on-and-off over the years due to a number of high profile scandals, including the former Carlton and Brisbane Lions player being accused of having an affair with Lara Bingle.

For many years, Fev had a reputation for being talented on the field, but reckless off it.

The two-time Coleman medallist was accused of spraying a woman in face with fire extinguisher in 2001, and fined $8000 after he allegedly tried to steal jackets from a North Melbourne dry cleaner the same year.

He’s been kicked out of Crown with black eye in March 2004, sent home from Australia’s tour of Ireland after assaulting a barman at a Galway nightclub in 2006, and fined $10,000 by then-club Carlton for urinating on nightclub window in 2008.

He dressed in a nightie and obscenely brandished a sex toy during Carlton’s Mad Monday celebrations in 2008, was censured for a drunken rampage at the 2009 Brownlow Medal and in 2010 admitted on national TV to a gambling addiction that had seen him rack up debts of around $200,000.

Oh, and a nude photo of bikini model Lara Bingle Fev apparently took and circulated while they were having an affair ended up in Women’s Day — and the rest of the media — in March that year.

In late 2013, his troubles continued after he declared himself bankrupt, with much of his fortune disappearing to gambling.

He also admitted to losing about $1 million on the punt including one day-long losing spree tallying $365,000.

But things appear to be on the turn for an older and wiser Fev.

“Maybe it is because we are getting older, but she talks all the time — I just listen,” Fevola said.

Brendan Fevola and the Irwins on I’m A Celebrity. Picture: Channel 10

“I never used to really listen. I’m like: ‘I’m watching TV, it doesn’t really interest me’. But now I am like, showing more interest because she is passionate about it, geez she is passionate about her work.

:She will get home at like seven and I’ve got dinner on the table ready to go, I plan it for when she gets home so she is so rapt.

“When we first got back together, she goes, ‘The only reason I’ve got you here is so you can cook dinner’.”

It’s the first time Fevola has properly acknowledged publicly that the pair are back together.

Prior to going into the jungle, Fevola refused to answer any questions about the couple’s relationship.

Alex sent in a Valentine’s message to him on Sunday, referring to him as “Snooks”.

As well as the Bingle scandal, Fevola has struggled with alcohol and gambling over the years and spent time in rehab.

Brendan Fevola during a challenge on I’m A Celebrity. Picture: Channel 10

He still drinks, but tries to control his consumption.

“I wish I didn’t drink so much. I just love it too much. Alex loves a drink too. She loves having a sip, like a good time,” he told Harragon.

During his most recent split from Alex, he moved to the town of Yarrawonga, where he lived with a mate.

“It really changed me as a person living there for the past three years,” he told News Corp before going into the jungle.

“Since I’ve been back in Melbourne, a few people have commented that I seem like a different person. If I didn’t move up there, I still could have been a dick. It was just really levelling.”

He added: “I’m not going to sit here and say I’m perfect because everyone knows that I’m not. I am just a happy dude that loves life and might take the wrong turn occasionally but I don’t mean anyone any harm, I never have.”

Originally published as Brendan Fevola and ex-wife Alex are back together: She took me back so I can cook dinner