Spencer Matthews claims I'm A Celeb bosses KNEW he was taking steroids when he ... trends now

Spencer Matthews has claimed he told I'm A Celebrity bosses that he was taking steroids before he entered the Jungle - only for producers to kick him off the show three days later.  

In 2015 Spencer's career and reputation suffered a damaging setback when he was medically withdrawn from the biggest reality TV show on British television as a result of his 'secret steroid addiction'. 

At the time, the Made In Chelsea star, 35, claimed 'ITV did what they had to do and I ended up on a plane', yet now he has revealed the full story, claiming the decision 'made no sense' and he was left alone 'crying his eyes out' for eight hours while show bosses decided his fate. 

Speaking on The Mail's Everything I Know About Me podcast he revealed that to this day he hates being referred to as a contestant on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! 'because I wasn't really. Like I wasn't able to.'

Spencer shared: 'I was looking forward to that so much right and I wanted it so badly because it is bang up my street. Being in that Jungle, I wouldn't have cared about any of the challenges, I would have absolutely loved it and would have been able to play a really good role.'

Yet he admitted that he was 'young and impressionable' when he signed up and had organised a boxing fight at his gym to compete in upon his return. 

In preparation, he began taking Anvar to bulk up - a type of anabolic steroid that can cause reduced sperm count, infertility, hair loss and stomach pain. 

In the UK anabolic steroids are class C drugs, which can only be issued by pharmacists with a prescription. They are illegal in Australia unless prescribed by your doctor.

Anabolic steroids are addictive and can lead to withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking it.

These symptoms can include: depression and apathy; feelings of anxiety; difficulty concentrating; insomnia; anorexia; decreased sex drive; extreme tiredness (fatigue); headaches and muscle and joint pain. 

Spencer has claimed that I'm A Celeb bosses were aware he was taking the steroids, saying: 'I declared that I had this Anavar they said it was fine to take. They gave it to me in the jungle, having declared it. 

On the second or third day they pulled me to one side and they said "Anavar you can't travel - you brought illegal drugs essentially into the country - we didn't realize that Anavar was illegal."

'I said: "Cool, let's throw it in the bin." And they said: "No, pulling you off these drugs could cause withdrawal. And we wouldn't know how you'd react. So we're gonna have to pull you from the show."' 

Spencer revealed he pleaded with producers not to pull him from the show, insisting he felt fine and begging them only to withdraw him if he started showing concerning symptoms. 

Yet his pleas fell on deaf ears, as Spencer recalled: 'All of a sudden, I've been pulled out haven't had the chance to explain anything to anyone.

 'They were saying "you've put the whole show at risk by bringing these pills into Australia" And I was like "but they're here, you're holding them, there is no issue. Nobody knows that they're here. So just throw them in the bin."' 

Spencer was then isolated in a room for eight hours with no contact with anyone while producers decided what to do. 

He recalled: 'I was just crying my eyes out, completely deflated, knowing that all the time that passed, they wouldn't really be able to put me back in because I've not been in there. It's cheating, essentially.' 

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.