Who is David Haye? I’m a Celebrity South Africa contestant and former boxer

by

Tonight, ITV’s I’m A Celebrity is back with some well-known stars, but with a twist! This season, the all-star edition is filmed in South Africa.

The new season’s cast includes returning champions Scarlett Moffatt and Harry Redknapp, known as the ‘Queen’ and ‘King’ of the jungle. They’ll be joined by TV star Gemma Collins, Olympic athlete Sir Mo Farah, and comedian Seann Walsh.

I’m really excited to see David Haye joining the competition! It’s been a while since he was on the show, and I’m curious to find out what he’s been doing with himself since then.

Here’s everything you need to know about him ahead of the first episode.

Who is David Haye?

Age: 45

Job: Former boxer

Instagram: @davidhaye

David Haye is a celebrated former professional boxer who competed in the heavyweight division. Known as ‘The Hayemaker’, the British athlete first became a world champion in the cruiserweight category, winning the WBA, WBC, and WBO titles at the same time before moving up to heavyweight.

In 2009, he defeated Nikolai Valuev, the WBA world champion, to become the heavyweight world champion. However, he lost the title in 2011 to Wladimir Klitschko.

After several attempts to return to the ring, including a loss to British boxer Tony Bellew (who was a finalist on I’m A Celebrity in 2023), David retired from boxing in 2018. He now works as a commentator and analyst for Sky Sports.

He became vegan in 2014 and is well-known for his dedication to the lifestyle, so it remains to be seen how he’ll perform during the food-based challenges.

What season of I’m a Celebrity was David Haye on?

David Haye won a bronze medal when he first appeared on ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ in 2012. That same season also featured his ‘South Africa’ co-star, Ashley Roberts, and Haye famously made headlines for showering nude in the jungle.

Why is David Haye returning to I’m a Celebrity?

David said he signed up for the all-stars season of the show because he really wanted to travel to a new place.

I’d always wanted to visit South Africa, so when I was invited to participate, I immediately said yes! Plus, it’s much closer to travel to than Australia.

Following my work on the Australian project, I spent three months in Costa Rica experiencing a similar lifestyle, living in the jungle. I find peace and enjoyment in natural environments.

Now that I’ve arrived, I’m really looking forward to disconnecting from my phone and the constant stream of information it provides.

Life is full of constant connections – work, family, friends – and there’s always something demanding your attention. But when you enter that space, it’s a chance for everything to pause.

It’s helpful to take time to consider the various parts of your life, your relationships, and what you’re planning for the future. This can quiet the constant distractions that many people don’t even realize are present whenever they check their phone, email, or texts.

Being in the jungle cuts you off from everything you know, and suddenly your life revolves around a group of strangers.

I’m a Celebrity… South Africa returns on Monday 6 April at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Don’t miss I’m a Celebrity… South Africa! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab, where she oversaw their local team. She has a BA in English Literature from the University of Nottingham.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-04-06 12:04