I'm A Celeb's Mike Tindall says Zara 'almost choked him to death' during yoga mat home birth

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Mike Tindall has opened up about his wife Zara Tindall's unexpected home birth. The former professional rugby player and the Olympian, who is also the daughter of Princess Anne, welcomed their third child last year, a baby boy named Lucas.

Speaking to fellow campmates Boy George, Scarlette Douglas and Owen Warner during the show that aired on Thursday, November 10, Mike revealed the pair were warned by Zara's midwife that they were not going to make it to the hospital.

The couple, who also share daughters Mia and Lena, were forced to improvise, placing two gym mats down in the bathroom. Reflecting on the moment, Mike said of his son: "Lucas was rapid. Third one. As we got our stuff to go to the hospital, she got out of the bath, she could barely stand, she was shaking. The midwife was like, 'She's not making the hospital'.

Read more: Tearful Boy George sparks I'm A Celebrity exit fears as Matt Hancock arrives in camp

"She was like, 'You don't want to be delivering in the car.' Into the gym, two gym mats down in the bathroom. But yeah." Of whether Zara was in pain, he said: "She was, it was fast though, from that moment. She almost choked me to death. You can't say anything can you? 'Can you let go, you're really hurting me?!'"

Zara and Mike Tindall during the Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

It's the second insight into the royal couple's relationship Mike has shared with delighted viewers since being on I'm A Celebrity. Earlier in the week, the 44-year-old revealed the "boozy" first date the pair shared after meeting for the first time.

Speaking to Babatúndé, Mike said: "First actual date, just went out for lunch locally. And ended up being quite a boozy one. Then we figured out that we both quite like getting smashed. It was a good start.”

Babatúndé asked Mike: "How many years has it been?" Mike replied: "18 years." You can read more on this here.

I'm A Celebrity.... Get Me Out Of Here! continues weekdays at 8pm. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.

READ NEXT:

• ITV I'm A Celebrity staff 'in floods of tears' over Olivia Attwood's exit

• I'm A Celebrity's Ant says show 'might as well have stayed in Wales' as rain pours during trial

• I'm A Celeb's Boy George and Charlene White clash as he brands the Loose Women star 'controlling'

• I'm A Celebrity viewers puzzled over campmate's whereabouts as they 'go missing'

• I'm A Celebrity pays tribute to former Welsh star of ITV show