2024-08-18 03:09:55
Day three in the jungle and the conversations are slowly becoming emotional. Especially Thorsten Legat’s. The athlete talks again around the campfire about his sad childhood.
Editor’s note: The content of this article comes from the jungle camp episode, which will not be shown on linear TV until August 18th, but is already available on RTL+.
For the 20th anniversary of “I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here!” RTL sent 13 former residents back to the jungle camp. 13 former candidates who have remained in people’s minds over the past two decades and caused a sensation in their season. Celebrities such as Kader Loth, Giulia Siegel, Eric Stehfest and Mola Adebisi were given a second chance by the Cologne broadcaster.
Thorsten Legat is also taking part in the format again eight years after his last participation in the jungle camp – and the ex-footballer has not forgotten how the show works. The viewers want trouble, tears and emotions. When the 55-year-old keeps watch with Danni Büchner, he talks to her about his dramatic childhood. “I wish I had led a decent life as a child,” says the athlete, crestfallen.
“Unfortunately, you can’t imagine… when you’re sitting helpless in the corner and a man comes along,” he recalls in conversation with Danni Büchner, “comes home, half drunk, glasses at half past seven, had the back of a gorilla, strong as a bull, takes off his jacket and beats us up. What are you going to do? When you’re six or seven years old?”
The athlete fights back tears. “You are helpless. And then you see how he beats up your mom, hits him in the face with the bamboo, with his fist. I’m going crazy.” On the jungle phone, Thorsten Legat sums it up: “Less love, more beatings. […] Decades of humiliation.” His father “tyrannized the whole family.”
The footballer also spoke about his sad past in the jungle in 2016. At the time, he was sitting around the campfire with Menderes Bagci. “My father bullied my family, beat them,” he said eight years ago. “The worst thing for me was when he abused us.” He “hated him like the plague.” “If you don’t get anything from your father’s side, then something is wrong. You carry that with you your whole life.”
On August 15, “I’m a Celebrity – The Showdown of the Jungle Legends” started on RTL+. On linear television, the special broadcast to mark the show’s 20th anniversary only started one day later. The jungle camp will be hosted as usual by Sonja Zietlow and Jan Köppen.
However, “I’m a Celebrity – The Showdown of the Jungle Legends” is not taking place in Australia this year, but in South Africa. The show was also recorded. Filming took place several weeks ago.