EXCLUSIVE: Mike Tindall breached ITV’s strict Covid regulations by playfully tackling an I’m A Celeb assistant producer as crew and cast members are told to keep at least two metres apart by show bosses

• The former England rugby ace, who’s married to Zara Phillips, the late Queen’s granddaughter, was seen pretending to throw a TV producer off a pontoon
• Mike, 44, broke strict show rules by touching the crew member, who wore a face covering, because cast and production must remain at least two metres apart 
• A source told MailOnline: ‘Mike having physical contact with the assistant producer was a rule break and he shouldn’t have approached her’ 
• Mike’s rule break came days before former Love Island star Olivia Attwood, 31, was forced to pull out of I’m A Celeb on medical grounds 
• The TV personality wasn’t allowed back into camp in accordance with the show’s stringent set of Covid protocols 

Mike Tindall breached ITV’s strict Covid regulations by playfully tackling an I’m A Celeb assistance producer, MailOnline can reveal.

The former England rugby ace, 44, who’s married to Zara Phillips, 41, the late Queen’s granddaughter, was seen pretending to throw a crew member off a pontoon and into the water days before he entered the jungle.

He broke strict show rules by physically touching the TV worker, who wore a face covering, because crew and celebrity cast members must remain at least two metres apart throughout their time on the series.

Mike Tindall breached ITV’s strict Covid regulations by playfully tackling an I’m A Celeb assistance producer, MailOnline can reveal

The former England rugby ace, who’s married to Zara Phillips, the late Queen’s granddaughter, was seen pretending to throw a crew member off a pontoon and into the water days before he entered the jungle 

A source explained: ‘All crew are told to stay two metres apart from cast members, which is a Covid regulation. Sound and security, who do tests, are the only people that can come into contact with the celebrities.

‘Crew are also asked to wear face coverings to prevent a Covid outbreak on set, which would completely ruin the show.

‘Mike having physical contact with the assistant producer was a rule break and he shouldn’t have approached her.

‘She was taken completely by surprise and didn’t expect Mike to behave the way he did.’

He broke strict show rules by physically touching the TV worker, who wore a face covering, because crew and celebrity cast members must remain at least two metres apart throughout their time on the series

Mike’s rule break came days before Olivia Attwood, 31, was forced to pull out of I’m A Celeb because she wasn’t allowed back into camp in accordance with their Covid regulations.

The TV personality left the jungle following a medical issue – but wasn’t granted access back into camp after breaking the show’s strict Covid bubble.  

For Olivia to be allowed back onto set, she would have been made to endure another week’s isolation, which was deemed ‘impossible.’ 

Mike and the blonde producer were pictured together on the Gold Coast of Australia days before he entered the TV jungle last Friday. 

Mike’s rule break came days before Olivia Attwood was forced to pull out of I’m A Celeb because she wasn’t allowed back into camp in accordance with their Covid regulations

The sportsman, who an eyewitness said was full of energy after completing his quarantine, threw her off guard. 

An onlooker told The Sun: ‘Mike cheekily ran up behind the pretty crew member before swinging her around on the pontoon. 

‘At one point he pretended to push her over the edge as he killed time while waiting to be taken to his first trial.

‘Mike was certainly bursting with energy after being cooped up in isolation for a week and is bound to be full of practical jokes in the camp.’  

Mike and the blonde producer were pictured together on the Gold Coast of Australia days before he entered the TV jungle last Friday

The father-of-three confirmed his wife Zara, who’s Princess Anne’s daughter, is hoping to fly out to Australia to greet him when his time on the show is up (pictured in June) 

The father-of-three confirmed his wife Zara, who’s Princess Anne’s daughter, is hoping to fly out to Australia to greet him when his time on the show is up.

She also warned him to keep his uncouth eating habits in check and away from the cameras.

Mike said: ‘We have some work out here so if it got to the end then hopefully, she’d be able to come out.

‘Zara told me to go and be myself, which is all you can be. She said to go enjoy, and be yourself. Zara’s biggest worry is how loud I am when I eat.

‘She will be very happy if someone comments about how loud I breathe when I eat because it’s always a point that she brings up.’ 

It’s not the first time that Mike, who shares three children Mia, eight, Lena, four, and Lucas, one, with his wife of 11 years, has displayed similar pranks publicly throughout the years.   

In 2011, when he was England captain, he was fined £25,000 for ‘serious misconduct’ by the RFU for enjoying a ‘dwarf-throwing contest’ with some teammates at a bar in New Zealand.

He was also pictured with his arm around ‘old flame’ Jessica Palmer on the same evening.

An ITV spokesperson added: ‘ITV Studios and Lifted Entertainment operate a stringent set of Covid protocols and procedures to ensure the protection and safety of our cast and crew. 

‘We have detailed risk assessments in place throughout filming and are satisfied that no protocols have been broken.’ 

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