Martina Navratilova thought she was signing up for a camping show when she agreed to appear on this year’s I’m A Celebrity… The Czech tennis legend, who finished runner-up to ex-EastEnders actor Joe Swash on last night’s show, admitted she had no idea how gruelling life in the Australian jungle would be.

When quizzed by presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly about why she decided to take part in the reality programme, Martina – who had to endure bugs crawling all over her face in her final Bushtucker Trial - said: “I took it on by not knowing what it was!

"I thought I would be sleeping under the stars and earning my food, but this was such a challenge.

"Even when you’re training for sport you have a rest, but here there was no rest.

"And you never felt full in your belly. That’s why it was essential to get as many portions as you could when there was a trial.”

The 52-year-old sports star insisted she was happy to lose to Joe in the final, because he was such a worthy winner.

She said: “I’m happy for Joe, really happy. You can’t compete with EastEnders. You can’t compete with Joe, he’s a treat.”