I’m a Celebrity star Dale Thomas reveals struggles since leaving the jungle
A stint on I’m A Celebrity forced Dale Thomas to face some of his biggest fears in front of Australia. But now, the series runner-up has revealed returning to reality has hang ups of its own.
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Dale Thomas has opened up about the whirlwind of life outside the jungle and revealed he is still struggling to adjust after returning home last week.
Thomas, who was runner-up to winner Miguel Maestre, said it was still a weird feeling to have freedom.
“The whole jungle experience and being so isolated, is one of the most bizarre things you could ever do,’’ he said.
“The fact you come out and try to adapt to not sleeping on a mattress, getting your freedom back, it’s such a bizarre experience. Even people contacting you on the phone the first few days is such a spin out.
“I would still say I haven’t adjusted to normal life yet either, it’s still a bit weird driving around and having commitments and even sleeping and not worrying about where a camera is.
“It’s all a bit foreign. Thirty days doesn’t seem that long to some people but when you have to live that, it’s a very long time and my body clock is firmly still on South African time.”
Thomas said despite his struggles since the show, he has found clarity for the year ahead.
Work wise it will include commentary work for Triple M and potentially Channel 7.
The Premiership Magpie and former Blue is planning to sell his Glen Iris home, head on a Europe holiday, and will fill in for a week as co-host with his campmate Billy Brownless on Triple M’s Rush Hour from February 24.
“Looking back on it now, it’s a little bit of ‘wow what just happened’.
“I said all along I wanted to try and use it as a big full stop on my playing career,’’ he said.
“The retirement tour that I joked about and managed to drag on for three months … I think I jokingly said I’d have a beer with anyone who asked, but I pretty much have.
“When you have that much time to think in there you can unpack a fair bit of stuff you normally wouldn’t do.
“You’d go to bed still thinking about it but I’m pretty optimistic for what I’m going to have this year.
“It’s pretty exciting, a new chapter and still in football. Just getting into that special comments vibe and it’s exciting to put that full stop on the playing days.”
Thomas said he had made genuine friendships from his time on the show.
“The jungle for me, I enjoyed it so much because I wasn’t doing it as a PR stunt or trying to line up work,’’ he said.
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“I wanted to let people see a different side to me. I did a fair bit of work with charity and the homeless but I was doing this to try and put smiles on people’s faces and not so people think I’m a good guy.
“So in that regard I think the jungle was good for me. In terms of work, that was never really my objective. It’s amazing how much people loved that show. From 15 year-olds to 80 year-old grannies, I’ve had the lot come at me.”