Carl Fogarty compares himself to Paul Gascoigne after revealing struggle with depression
HE MIGHT be the King of the Jungle but Carl Fogarty has revealed he's not always been the happy-go-lucky chap fans have fallen in love with.
Carl Fogarty has compared himself to Paul Gascoigne after a struggle with depression
The star, who is the most successful World Superbike racer of all time, has opened up about his struggle with depression after retiring.
Speaking about darker times, Foggy said: "For three years I wanted to forget who I was. I was depressed because I could no longer do the thing I was good at.
"I used to read stuff about Paul Gascoigne and Frank Bruno and I could easily see how they ended up not in a good place."
The biking champion retired back in 2000 after hitting privateer Ducati rider Robert Ulm at Phillip's Island, Australia, and crashing out of the arena.
The star admitted he took out his feelings on his doting wife
The former motorbike racer compared his struggle with that of Paul Gacoigne
Going into more detail about taking time out from motorbike racing, Foggy continued to tell The Sun: "Going into my trophy room at home was torture – a constant reminder of what I couldn't do any more.
"You take it out on the person nearest to you, who was my wife. She put up with a lot of sh** if I'm honest."
The father-of-two was speaking about his doting wife Michaela, to whom he has been married to for 24 years.
The star's wake-up call came as a terminally ill friend told him to buck his ideas up and get on with his life.
Foggy's best friend, Mark Winstanley, told him to stop complaining about his life as he was 'dying' and the motorbike rider wasn't.
The star put his woes behind him after a kick up the bottom from a friend
Mark died after losing a battle with stomach cancer aged just 45. Foggy said: "Mark stopped me from whinging about who I was."
The 49-year-old wept as he was told by hosts Ant and Dec he was this year's I'm A Celebrity King of the Jungle, and said: "I just think it's all a dream.
"Whatever's coming out of my mouth right now is probably all rubbish."
Runner up X Factor star Jake was quick to praise him, saying: "I couldn't have lost to a better man. He deserves it, he's a legend."
Presenter Mel Sykes finished in third place had told Ant and Dec earlier that Foggy was her choice to be king of the jungle.