'I had two angels on my shoulder - the Queen and Princess Diana': I'm A Celeb South Africa star Paul Burrell details how the late Royals helped him while he fought cancer in the jungle
Paul Burrell discussed his cancer battle and how he was supported by the late Royals during an appearance on Lorraine on Friday.
It was revealed earlier this year that his appearance on I'm A Celebrity South Africa, which starts on Monday, led to his diagnosis thanks to health tests prior to the show revealing that he had prostate cancer.
Paul, who worked beside and was a confidante of Diana, Princess of Wales, for ten years until her death in 1997, was diagnosed with the disease last summer.
During his appearance on Lorraine, he said: 'I was sat in the jungle with cancer, the Queen had died. But I had two angels on my shoulder, the Queen and Princess Diana. I'm going to live my life and be grateful for everything'
Talking about the queen, who passed away when they were filming, the former aide said: 'She became my surrogate mother. Living with someone for 11 years, she made me the man I am today.'
Open and honest: Paul Burrell discussed his cancer battle and how he was supported by the late Royals during an appearance on Lorraine on Friday
Close pal: Paul, who worked beside and was a confidante of Diana, Princess of Wales, for ten years until her death in 1997, was diagnosed with the disease last summer (pictured in 1997)
Back then: Talking about the queen, who passed away when they were filming, the former aide said: 'She became my surrogate mother. Living with someone for 11 years, she made me the man I am today' (Paul being invested by the Queen in Buckingham Palace in November 1997)
An honour: He thanks I'm A Celeb for saving his life
Alongside eight other celebrities, Paul was in Kruger National Park in north-eastern South Africa, one of Africa’s largest game reserves to film for the first ever I'm A Celebrity series featuring previous stars of the jungle.
But after coming home to the UK, Paul was handed some heartbreaking news which followed up on some health checks taken before his trip.
He previously revealed that he had routine health tests before taking part in the show to give him the all clear, but doctors showed concern about raised prostate-specific antigen levels.
He spoke to his GP about the results to enquire about his ability to still take part in the show but was told he was fine to wait until returning home to investigate the issue further.
Helping out: It was revealed earlier this year that his appearance on I'm A Celebrity South Africa, which airs on Monday, led to his diagnosis thanks to health tests prior to the show revealing that he had prostate cancer
He joked with Lorraine about the last time he was on the show, admitting it was 20 years prior when he was 'a lot thinner, a lot younger' and married with kids.
Paul went on to say: 'I'm A Celebrity literally saved my life, because I went for the medical, they found a raised PSA level. I went to my GP and I said to him, "Am I still able to do the show?"
'And he said "Look, this can wait until you get back, and when you get back we'll continue with the investigations."
Wah! Elsewhere in his appearance on Friday morning, he also undertook a trial with Lorraine in which they grappled with live snakes
'So when I got back, then I had an MRI scan, then I had biopsy, then they told me they had cancer.'
Elsewhere in his appearance on Friday morning, he also undertook a trial with Lorraine in which they grappled with live snakes.
Paul was the runner-up of the fourth series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2004.
He later said that he is 'so grateful' to ITV for picking him to take part in the jungle, and described how he is 'emotional' but is looking forward to the end of his radio therapy sessions, to which he has five left.
Cheeky! Lorraine and Paul undertook a trial
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