Tokyo 2020 silver medallist boxer Ben Whittaker rules out I’m A Celebrity stint: ‘If a moth comes in it’s game over’

Ben Whittaker might be an Olympic silver medallist when it comes to boxing, but he’s revealed insects are his weakness. 

The British light-heavyweight boxer, 24, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics this week, would rather take punches from world-class boxers than face off against a spider or a moth. 

Ben appeared on Good Morning Britain on Thursday where he told Ranvir Singh: ‘You know what, I do my fighting in the ring – outside I am soft. 

‘If there’s spiders, insects or any needles involved, I’m beaten.’

Ranvir asked Ben: ‘So you’re not in I’m A Celebrity then? You’re going to say no to that, is it?’

Ben responded: ‘You know what, I’d give it a try. I’d give it a try but I’d last about 24 hours. In our house, if a moth comes in it’s game over, I’m finished.’

Contestants including Vernon Kay have been subjected to thousands of bugs being dropped on them on I’m A Celebrity (Picture: ITV/Rex)

Ranvir then joked: ‘That’s funny, so you’d get in the ring with a Cuban hard-nut who can punch really hard and take that but I’m A Celebrity and a few critters, it’s a big old no.’

Making a confession that could seriously come back to bite him if he ever does go on the show, Ben admitted: ‘My worst fear is spiders so bring that near to me and I’ve lost, every day.’

Given that celebs are routinely doused in vats of critters or locked in coffins with spiders, it’s probably wise for Ben to give the show a miss… 

Elsewhere in his interview, Ben admitted he regretted taking off his silver medal on the podium after being disappointed with not winning gold. 

Ben Whittaker took his medal off on the podium after being disappointed with getting silver and not gold (Picture: Harry How/Getty Images)

He explained: ‘[It was] me just being myself, truthfully. Just disappointment, embarrassment. I just felt like I let everybody down, Great Britain down, but I’ve had time to reflect on what an achievement it is. 

‘I’ve added to Great Britain’s medal tally, I’ve added myself into history and so I can’t really complain.

‘Me just being a competitor, a winner – if I’m playing Fifa with one of my friends and lose, I don’t want to talk to them for the rest of the day! 

‘That’s just me being me, that’s the boy inside of me. I really can’t help it… but that wasn’t me being me. Me is actually a bubbly, smiley, fun kid but the boxer came out and the upset came out. 

More: I’m A Celebrity

‘It is what it is… but I’ve got this beautiful medal on my neck now and I’m very proud to wear it, to bring it back to Great Britain.’

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITV Hub. 

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