I’m A Celebrity contestant Before venturing into the jungle, Frankie Dettori had lens implants placed in his eyes.
Tony Bellew, 52, a jockey and former pro boxer, joined the other campmates on Thursday’s episode, which included This Morning’s Josie Gibson, YouTuper Nella Rose, and First Dates star Fred Sirieix.
Frankie said that he had a’simple operation’ on his vision before going to camp since he couldn’t’read without glasses’ longer.
‘I’ve had some lenses put inside. It was a simple procedure. Obviously, you know time heals things,’ he told the Mirror.
‘The bright light really affected me. Especially in the mornings when my eyes were still tender.’
However, he insisted it’s the ‘best thing’ he could have done, and it’s already having a profound impact on his day to day life.
He added: ‘But, it’s the best thing I’ve done actually. I can read without glasses and can see long it’s great. I’m glad I did it.’
The technique, known as refractive lens exchange (RLE), involves removing the real lens from immediately behind the front of the eye and replacing it with a man-made replica.
Meanwhile, Frankie stated that his five children pleaded with him not to ’embarrass them’ in the bush.
‘I got the same message from everyone “dad don’t be embarrassing”. I said I can’t promise that,”‘ he quipped. ‘I don’t know what that means but all five of them said, “dad don’t be embarrassing!” ‘
And he has stated that he isn’t going on I’m A Celebrity for the money since he knows his children will all want ‘their piece’ of the prize money.
‘When you have five children, all the fun is taken out of it! I’m sure they’ll want their slice,’ he teased.
‘I’ll be honest here, it’s not about the money, I was doing it, you know because I’ve been asked so many times to do it, I thought if I let this opportunity go this time then perhaps when I’m retired and a nobody, then I might not get another chance.’
I’m A Celebrity continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
