I’m a Celebrity star Shane Richie reveals he slept rough on bench for two weeks due to money problems

Actor has spoken candidly about his previous financial struggles throughout his career

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Shane Richie has revealed that he once slept rough on a bench for two weeks.

The actor has been candid about facing financial struggles throughout his career during his appearance on the ITV reality series.

He explained how as a teenager he was forced to sleep on the streets after a job offer at a nightclub in Plymouth fell through.

“I was too proud to ask my parents or anyone else for help,” Richie said.

“I had my jeans, a shirt and a jumper and an old parka-jacket and I stayed for a couple of weeks on this bench under a tree,” he said. “During the day I’d beg at the railway station although I never got very far.”

Jessie Wallace and Shane Richie as Kat and Alfie in EastEnders (BBC)

Read more: Who is Shane Richie and why is he famous?

On last night’s episode (22 November), the soap star also opened up about how he had been “bankrupt” before he was eventually cast as Alfie Moon in EastEnders in 2008.

He explained to fellow campmate Victoria Derbyshire that he had to put his house up for sale after he had invested in the film Shoreditch, which was later panned by critics and seen by just 300 people upon its release in 2004.

The 56-year-old said: “I’m bankrupt because of this film I’d invested in. I’ve got nothing. I’m selling the house, no work.”

He added: “The phone goes and it’s my manager and he goes EastEnders want you. I started getting teary and he told me about this character called Alfie Moon and in my first episode I’d be coming in and taking over the Queen Vic, I started crying.’

Being saved at the last minute seems to be a recurring theme with Richie.

The actor had previously revealed that he chose to appear on I’m a Celebrity because he was “literally skint” due to the pandemic.

I’m a Celebrity continues each night at 9pm on ITV.