I’m a Celeb’s Shane Richie reveals he spent 2 weeks sleeping rough & had to beg for money after his career hit the skids
SHANE Richie has revealed how he spent two weeks sleeping rough and had to beg for money - after his career hit the skids.
The I’m A Celebrity star fell on hard times after quitting his job working as a blue-coat at Pontins.
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He moved to Plymouth on the south-coast after being promised a job at a nightclub, but when it failed to materialise he was forced to live on the streets for a fortnight.
“I was too proud to ask my parents or anyone else for help,” the I’m A Celebrity favourite revealed.
“I had my jeans, a shirt and a jumper and an old parka-jacket and I stayed for a couple of weeks on this bench under a tree. During the day I’d beg at the railway station although I never got very far.
“I’d ask for five pence for a cup of tea but I’d always do it with a smile on my face and the combination of that and my London accent meant people thought I was always taking the mick.
"But what had started out as a laugh was no longer funny. I was cold, hungry, dirty, tired and starting to smell.”
Shane wrote about the incident, which happened in his teens, in his book Rags to Richie.
The 58-year-old eventually dragged himself out of his hell with the support of a friend he made on the south-cast.
And he went to have an amazing career starring in shows including Lucky Numbers and EastEnders and in stage-musicals Grease.
He will be back on screens tonight appearing on I’m A Celebrity which bookies are tipping him to win.
The revelation comes after Shane admitted on the show that he hasn't worked for a year and was rejected from the Mr Tumble movie.