Mike Tindall - I'm a Celebrity

[Arnaquer]

Rumours circulating that he's signed up for the next series of I'm a Celebrity.
I know he and Zara have to make their own money but I find this tasteless and tacky.
Puts me in mind of the Royal It's a Knockout.
Surely they can't be that desperate for cash?

Zara was also world champion, and I can name other equestrians who have had similar commercial deals, from about the time of Lucinda Prior-Palmer and Rolex and onwards.

And yes, I think it is very likely she would have had done very similar things to those equestrians - endorsements, books, directorships, clothing brand associations etc

Well yes, on the basis that she is a world champion and Olympic medal winner

Mark Todd (NZL eventer) and John Whitaker (GB showjumper) have their own brands that make and sell clothing for riders and equipment.

Lots of equestrian sports people have major sponsorship deals, quite a few that aren't necessarily horsey brands too for example:

Mary King (GB Eventer) had a long running deal with Joules and had her own range with her name all over items from it.

H&M have deals with several showjumpers, (Olympic Gold medalist Peder Fredricson, and I think three others) and even have their brand name in the name of an Olympic Gold Medal winning horse - H&M All In.

William Fox-Pitt has a deal with Jeep, and also Musto. Harry Meade is sponsored by Land Rover.

John Whitaker has over his long career had sponsorship with all kinds of companies including Jaguar Landrover and Next.

Most riders need sponsorship to survive, the mainstream press aren't interested in many of them though so outside horsey circles people don't hear of them. The only other rider likely to get anywhere near the interest is Charlotte DuJardin she lists 20 sponsors on her website but most non-horsey people wouldn't have heard of them.

Wound the critics of Zara and Mike prefer them to become dependent on public funds ?

Well, Jesus, that is a long list and they are not as publicised as Zara. Do they get paid as much as Zara and do they also have side gigs outside their field like in science etc. where they make hundreds of thousands?

They won't be as well publicised as Zara because there is only one reason for the public to be interested in them, their sport, whereas Zara whether she likes it or not gets extra attention because of who her family are.

Lissa Green and Emily King get "extra" attention because of their parents but only within horsey circles because that is where their parents are known. Jessica Springsteen on the other hand, like Zara gets press attention for her non-horse related family and the press run stories if her father is spotted watching her etc.

Katie Price got utterly disproportionate attention for her "dressage career" because she had a profile outside the world of horses.

Having a public profile isn't something Zara or Mike can help, they both have a higher profile as a result of who they are married to (like Posh and Becks) but they aren't doing anything that others in their sport don't do.

but without all her family money would she have got there.

So- is your point
-a. No-one would have heard of her if she was not Royal
or
-b. Alright, then people would have heard of her but only because her family was rich.

as it’s a bit confusing

It's not just money is it. Both her mother and father were medal winning eventers. If she didn't have the aptitude and training she would have got nowhere. I don't get this sour take on Zara. She's put a lot of hard work into her sport. All of the royal family are skilled riders. Could you have done what she has done?

It’s definitely not just money - though it doesn’t hurt as it’s an expensive sport. Zara won a gold medal when she won the world championships and a silver medal at the Olympics.

I was at school with girls from wealthy families who were determined to end up in the British showjumping team. They weren’t good enough, no matter how much money they could throw at good horses.

the fact that her mother was a Gold medalist at the Olympics and a silver medallist after that and that her father was a Gold medalist at the Olympics as well but couldn’t afford to remain and amateur, shows there’s a tad more to Zara’s success than her running round shouting “My Granny’s the Queen dontcha know!”.

Mike Tindall definitely bought his way into winning the World Cup. Oh… wait.

I think people do respect Zara for her horsemanship.

A big part of what makes you successful in eventing is having access to good quality horses though, so she does have a bit of an advantage there! Many talented riders spend ages training young horses up to the required level and then have to sell them to keep themselves afloat in the sport. They also have to split their time between training and holding lessons and clinics to being in income. That may apply to Zara too but to the same degree as everyone else.

And of course you can have great horses and be utterly useless (which she is not) or your big hope horse can get injured, so it's a bit of luck, a bit of financial backing, plus her skills and work that make up where she is today in the sport.

It's bound to help that your parents are Olympic level eventers too (but many other professional eventers have a parent or two in the sport) but the other big help is that she has access to high level stabling, practice arenas, and grazing and an estate to hack around! And I suppose she doesn't have the same dire financial pressures that others riders face if they fail, eg losing their home or horses. I imagine she has some financial constraints though as it's a very costly sport at the top level.

But NOT to the same degree as everyone else

Quite, no one is getting to the level Zara has without hard work, talent and dedication. She has won individual gold at both World and European Championships, as well as team medals at World, European and Olympic level.

Equestrian sports are hugely expensive. Not everyone at the top of the sport was born into money but those who weren't will almost certainly have had land or ponies available in their early days. The ones who claim to not have privilege generally grew up on a farm (eg John & Michael Whitaker, Oli Townend) or had a parent who was knowledgeable and comitted enough to provide a serious level of input including buying and selling ponies to trade up (eg Laura Collett, Charlotte DuJardin) or some combination of money, land, knowledge.

There are very very few successful riders in the Olympic disciplines who don't have the advantage of money, land or parental knowledge. Zara is no different to many others and arguably has had it harder than some others due to her family's duties/obligations/profile. It would probably have been easier to be Laura Tomlinson/Jack Whitaker/Ingrid Kilmke/Harry Mead.

There are a few weird ride-or-die people on here for pro M&H vs rest of RF but many more who can see the nuances etc. And some who are just very anti-monarchy so don't want to say anything good about anyone.

You didn't mention the ones who are ride or die for anything RF especially W&K but against M&H for anything and everything or perhaps you haven't noticed those.

Having a public profile isn't something Zara or Mike can help, they both have a higher profile as a result of who they are married to (like Posh and Becks) but they aren't doing anything that others in their sport don't do

That doesn't answer the question that was asked which was this:

Do they get paid as much as Zara and do they also have side gigs outside their field like in science etc. where they make hundreds of thousands?

I'd be interested in the reply to this too.

You do buy your way into it. If you don't have the money to pay for the lessons, you aren't just jumping on a horse and taking part in competitions. Time, dedications, £££. Horse riding is more expensive than most if you are comparing with gymnastics, ballet, football, rugby, swimming, tennis, instrument lessons etc.
If they didn't have that wealth, she would never had the exposure. She also benefits as a Royal despite not having a title. Being Zara Philips opens doors no doubt.

Well, Mike's arrived in Brisbane (on DM if you can be bothered looking it up).

I've only watched the Australian versions (and not many of them) before. I wonder if we'll get to see this here too.

If not I hope MN can keep me informed. I shamelessly want to see how he goes 😉

Mike's arrived in Brisbane

Yep.

And already reportedly being a bit defensive over whether he had to ask permission to scoff kangaroo balls appear.

Boy George has apparently scored the biggest payday ever on the show. I wonder if that will put Mike's much broken nose out? 😄

I wonder when he actually had his nose fixed? He used to look like a boxer who couldn't win a fight, but it's much straighter now.

I read somewhere that when Zara told her Mum they were engaged, The Princess Royal replied "Can we get his nose fixed before they wedding? I'll pay".

It's probably made up but I wish it were true.

Looks like it was fixed and shown off at Harry's wedding around 2018 although he'd been complaining of breathing difficulties in 2015.

In other news it seems our new overlord isn't on board with the bollock scarfing:

www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1689314/mike-tindall-im-a-celebrity-2022-king-charles-III-disapproves-zara-tindall-royal-news

I was not going to watch but now Boy George is on there I'm going to have to.

"As for these adverts, it’s pretty undignified. The Queen was Zara’s grandmother and the King is her uncle, and the timing is ugly, because it looks like being part of the funeral has raised their profile and helped drum up business.
"This stuff is absolutely not what the Palace wants, but these people seem determined to push and push in search of more money."

That is one salty 'Royal source' - I guess us peasants will never know the truth of it.

Matt Hancock joining. For some reason I find that hilarious and I might even watch.

Mike Tindall is mentioned in the adverts for I'm a Celebrity very much as part of the Royal Family. I would be embarrassed in his shoes. It is a show for people well past the peak of their career who need to make a bit of money, or people who are not well known and hoping to give their career a boost. I wonder which one he is?

For once antelope I agree with you. I don’t think it’s appropriate at all.