Freddie talks of quitting drink over depression

The ex-St Annes and Lancashire player is currently on the Australian version of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Freddie, 37, told his jungle campmates: “One, I genuinely thought I’d had enough of it.

“It catches up with me in the morning.

“And two, I suffer with depression and it doesn’t help at all. I just hit rock bottom afterwards. So you’re far better without it.”

The 6ft 4ins all-rounder retired from professional cricket in 2010 but came out of retirement last year to play for Lancashire in the T20 Blast, before heading down under to play for Brisbane Heat in the Australian equivalent.

So far, he has completed a trial with travel TV presenter Tyson Mayr, and has baffled his fellow celebrities in the South African jungle with his Lanky lingo – leading them to ask for an interpreter to help them understand him.

Before entering the jungle, Freddie admitted he was stepping into the lions’ den among the Aussies, as one of the heroes of the famous 2005 Ashes victory - and his biggest jungle fear was fellow campmate fellow cricketer Merv Hughes.

And when he was asked if he was afraid of any wildlife he may encounter, Freddie said: “I’m scared of Merv! He’s the biggest animal in that jungle!”

Australians are voting to keep Freddie in the camp by Tweeting #celebfreddie.