- Comedian Iain Lee revealed stress from ‘I’m A Celebrity’ contributed to his relapse into drug addiction after 13 years clean
- Lee admits responsibility for his relapse and suggests reality TV shows should offer better mental health support during filming
- He has since become a qualified counsellor and retired from broadcasting to focus on helping others with mental health and addiction issues
A former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! contestant has shared how ‘stress’ from the show led to his subsequent relapse into drug addiction.
Comedian, writer and former radio presenter Iain Lee appeared on the ITV competition in 2017.
He made it all the way to that year’s final, making it to the top three with Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas and eventual winner Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo.
The cast also included Boris Johnson’s dad, Stanley Johnson, media personality Rebekah Vardy, and EastEnders’ Joe Swash.
Get personalised updates on I’m A Celeb
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
However, his time in the jungle took its toll on Iain, 52, who shared how the stress of more ‘challenging’ campmates and the pressure of being on the high-profile show led to his eventual relapse.
Prior to his appearance on I’m A Celeb, former addict Iain had been clean for 13 years… although he had already ‘set the wheels in motion’ after he stopped attending sobriety meetings two years prior.
In an interview with Daily Star, Iain shared how he’d gotten through his cocaine addiction thanks to a stint in Narcotics Anonymous.
He added: ‘After 11 years, I stopped going to meetings, so I’d already set the wheels in motion.’
It was then that he entered the I’m A Celeb jungle, telling the tabloid: ‘I went in 13 years clean, but not long after coming out, the stress of the show got to me.’
Reportedly naming boxer Amir Khan, Rebekah Vardy, footballer Dennis Wise and Jamie Lomas as four of the more challenging personalities he clashed with, Iain said: ‘I was in there with a bunch of a*******s.’
He added: ‘Not blaming them — it’s my fault. I picked up again. It was totally on me.’
Iain subsequently took ‘full responsibility’ for his relapse, and is now approaching five years of sobriety.
On whether ITV could have supported him better, Iain said: ‘The onus is on me. I get that. What more could ITV have done?
‘But a phone call wasn’t enough… I just said, “I’m all right, thanks.” That was it. 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.’
Iain rose to fame as co-host of The 11 O’Clock Show from 1998 until 2000, and breakfast show RI:SE in 2003.
He embarked on a full-time radio career in 2005, hosting talk-based shows including BBC Radio WM and talkRADIO.
In 2023, the star stepped down from his career in broadcasting to focus on his work as a counsellor.
In a statement to social media at the time, he wrote: ‘Hey everyone, a bit of news, a few weeks ago I handed my notice in at Jack FM.
‘Not sure how long I’ve got left (maybe nothing after this tweet!). It wasn’t working for me with no producer, podcast or daily best bits.
He continued: ‘It’s also made me realise I don’t want to work in radio anymore so I’m announcing my retirement from broadcasting to focus full time on my counselling work.’
He signed off: ‘I’ve been working in this industry for 30 years and I’m really tired. So, onto new and better adventures. Thank you radio, for most of it it was a blast.’
Iain, who has also been diagnosed as being bipolar and having ADHD, has been open about his struggle with drugs and poor mental health.
He currently works as a qualified counsellor, tackling issues which include addiction, neurodivergence, trauma, depression, anxiety and child sexual abuse.
On the Listen UP podcast for AbbeyCare this year, Iain revealed how his descent into drugs coincided with his rise to stardom.
‘Shortly after trying cocaine, I got my first job on the television. I got The 11 O’Clock Show, and it’s the late 90s, and suddenly I’m earning a lot of money,’ he said.
Describing his intense impostor’s syndrome, he added: ‘To hide that insecurity and that fear, I took more cocaine… it very quickly became literally insane. It became psychosis. I was full of fear and low self-esteem.’
‘There’s no two ways about it – I became a thoroughly unpleasant person to work with, fuelled by fear and cocaine, a really, really bad combination. I became everything I didn’t want to be.’
Metro has contacted ITV for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
