Former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! contestant Iain Lee has opened up about how the immense stress of the ITV show contributed to his relapse into drug addiction after more than a decade of sobriety.
From Jungle Stress to Personal Struggle
The comedian and ex-radio presenter, now 52, entered the Australian jungle in 2017. He remarkably reached the final, finishing in the top three alongside Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas and winner Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo. However, the experience came at a significant personal cost.
Lee had maintained 13 years of clean time prior to his appearance, having overcome a cocaine addiction through Narcotics Anonymous. Yet, he admits he had already 'set the wheels in motion' for a potential relapse by stopping his support meetings two years earlier.
In a candid interview, he stated that the pressure of the high-profile competition and clashes with what he described as more 'challenging' campmates took a severe toll. 'I went in 13 years clean, but not long after coming out, the stress of the show got to me,' Lee revealed.
Taking Responsibility and Calling for Change
While naming fellow contestants including boxer Amir Khan, Rebekah Vardy, footballer Dennis Wise, and Jamie Lomas as difficult personalities, Lee was clear about where the ultimate responsibility lay. 'Not blaming them — it's my fault. I picked up again. It was totally on me,' he said.
Now approaching five years of renewed sobriety, Lee has reflected on the support offered by production company ITV. He suggests that reality TV shows need to implement more robust, ongoing mental health care for participants.
'The onus is on me. I get that,' he said. 'But a phone call wasn't enough... I work as a counsellor now and I think they should have me, or someone who's survived reality TV and understands mental health, there not just before or after, but during as well.'
A New Career in Counselling
The experience has profoundly shaped Lee's life and career. In 2023, he announced his retirement from broadcasting after a 30-year career that included shows like The 11 O'Clock Show and talkRADIO.
He now works full-time as a qualified counsellor, specialising in areas including addiction, neurodivergence, trauma, and anxiety. Lee, who has diagnoses of bipolar disorder and ADHD, has been open about his struggles, linking his initial descent into drug use to the pressures of early fame and intense impostor syndrome.
His story highlights the often-hidden psychological pressures of reality television and sparks a crucial conversation about the duty of care owed to participants long after filming ends.
