Jordan North: I was so skint when the pandemic hit I nearly moved back up north
Radio DJ Jordan North has revealed he was 'so skint' when the pandemic hit that he nearly had to move back up north.
Speaking to Kate Thornton on her White Wine Question Time podcast (recorded in 2021) the BBC Radio 1 presenter — and runner up on 2020's I'm A Celebrity — say he 'lost all work' when the pandemic hit.
He said: "There was a couple of times, especially during the pandemic, where I nearly moved back up north. It doesn't seem that long ago, it was only last summer, summer 2020.
"I was so skint, and my mum and dad had moved out to Spain. They had to pay for my flight out to go and see them."
"I'm not going 'woe is me', because I know so many people are in a lot worse situations. But I'd lost all my work. I used to cover at Radio 1 and I was only on on Sunday mornings.
WATCH: Jordan North on how being sick in the jungle led to his greatest career success
"So I used to do my Sunday morning show and then had a lot of other work around it, doing bits here and there. DJ gigs at universities and stuff.
"Compared to summer 2020 where I lost all work, and now where I'm so busy, I'm like: 'Oh, what am I gonna do? I need a day off!'"
North finished second place in the 2020 edition of I'm A Celebrity behind Giovanna Fletcher. His new found TV fame led to a slot presenting the Radio 1 drivetime show with Vick Hope, taking over from Nick Grimshaw in September last year. He was also named as the new co-presenter for the BBC's festive Top of the Pops specials.
North also talked to Thornton about the "madness" of finding himself in the castle with Victoria Derbyshire, whose show he had worked on as a researcher in the past.
He said: "Of all the shows I have worked on, I learned from Vic's show the most. Because that lady I've got a lot of time for. She is precise, she does her research, she really does her prep for guests and I'm the same now.
"I saw her at the top of the cliff. And I was like: 'Oh my god, Vic!' I've not watched much of it back but I remember saying: 'I used to be her tea boy.'
"And then we were in the castle together. And it was just mad. This lady that I really admired and looked up to and used to work for. We had kept in touch.
Read more: I'm A Celebrity's Victoria Derbyshire recounts THAT Jeremy Hunt slip-up
"And then about 20 minutes later, I was sick. And as my agent said, you being sick on that place was the best thing ever!"
WATCH: Radio 1's Jordan North recalls how he landed his dream job
