David Haye is set to return to I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here… South Africa, with the former heavyweight champion having previously been in a relationship with Helen Flanagan
David Haye(Image: Getty Images)
Helen Flanagan, the actress and former partner of David Haye, was previously reduced to tears when discussing their relationship. The 45-year-old retired boxer is set to return to the jungle for the new series of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here… South Africa, which started on Monday night.
The former Coronation Street star, 35, became visibly emotional as she opened up about her connection with Haye and reports that she had been part of a ‘throuple’ with him.
The one-time heavyweight champion has frequently made headlines in recent years for practising polyamory, whereby a person maintains multiple romantic and sexual relationships with the knowledge and consent of all those involved.
Haye and Flanagan first crossed paths on I’m a Celebrity back in 2012 but didn’t begin a romance until they both featured on the 2022 edition of the reality TV show. It was during an appearance with relationship experts on Celebs Go Dating in September 2024, however, that Flanagan spoke candidly about Haye and the complications that come with dating the gold medal-winning former fighter.
Helen broke down in tears as she revealed they had once been in a relationship, but struggled with the idea of not being the sole woman in his life. “I’d known him for 10 years,” Helen said on the show.
“We did a reality show together. I remember the first time seeing him in the jungle, I was like ‘wow.’ It was quite something – it’s really hard for me to talk about.
“He had a girlfriend and an open relationship. I didn’t mean to fall in love with him, but I did. We did have this amazing connection together – we were like fire. It was weird – I think he does love his girlfriend and he loves me as well. It just brings me to a part in my life that was quite dark.”
Helen Flanagan opened up on her time with David Haye(Image: Joe Maher/Getty Images for the NTA’s)
When pressed on suggestions she had been involved in a throuple, she responded: “No [it wasn’t]. I was in love with him. I wouldn’t have enjoyed watching the man I was in love with have sex with another woman, that’s not for me.
“I had communication with his girlfriend, but I felt very guilty. I didn’t feel nice about it all. It really upsets me because I don’t mean to hurt other people but I was just really lonely. I found it really difficult because it just happened. It’s not nice on another girl and I should’ve known better.”
Haye and Flanagan brought their brief romance to a close in December 2023. Speaking ahead of the launch of the latest series of I’m a Celebrity, the former boxer said: “The first time I did it, it felt very easy for me.
“The trials weren’t that hard at all. And I think I was quite vocal about that going into it [this time], like [I was] wanting a bit of a challenge. And they turned they turned up the heat. They really did.”
Helen Flanagan and David Haye struck up a romance in 2022(Image: ITV)
He light-heartedly suggested that “some of the stuff they were getting us to do I wouldn’t have thought it was legal to do.”
In contrast to the regular series, this year’s instalment of the programme has been pre-recorded.
It has been suggested this will be the most challenging series to date, with the previous spin-off airing in 2023 and seeing Loose Women star Myleene Klass crowned as the inaugural winner.
I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here… South Africa launched on Monday, April 6, at 9pm on ITV1 and is also available to stream on ITVX.
