Jono Coleman reveals the devastating impact bullying had on his confidence

Beloved Aussie star Jono Coleman has opened up about his weight and self-esteem issues following last night’s episode of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

On Wednesday’s episode of the hit reality show, contestants Ajay Rochester, former host of the reality weight-loss series The Biggest Loser, and former Gogglebox Australia star Yvie Jones reflected on how their weight has affected their job opportunities in the past.

“When you came in [to the show], I was like oh wow, this has never happened before. Because it’s always the one fat girl and everyone else is gorgeous. Tell me when it’s ever been two girls?” Ajay said.

Now, in a candid chat about his own weight issues, Jono has opened up about how bullying impacted his self-esteem growing up.

“I think people of a larger size are used to making jokes about themselves before someone else does it. It’s kind of a defence mechanism,” he told co-host Sarah Harris. “With me, I’ve made a career out of it and I think that it’s part of my thing because there is a lot of humour to be had in being a husky or big-boned person.

“There’s so many people we all know in school or workplaces, there’s always the chubby guy at work who’s kind of the life of the party and I think that’s what they [contestants on I’m A Celeb] are saying.”

"I think people of a larger size are used to making jokes about themselves before somebody else does it."

After watching Ajay & Yvie in the #ImACelebrityAU jungle discuss being plus-sized & fat-shaming, @jonocoleman opens up about his own experiences. #Studio10 pic.twitter.com/TWMUcpFy2V

— Studio 10 (@Studio10au) January 16, 2019

He then went on to say how bad it is that young people at school are getting bullied for it.

“You’ve got to be tough on the outside, but you’ve still got to remember there are human beings on the inside who need a bit of loving and nurturing,” Jono explained.

He said that while he isn’t impacted as much by bullying at the age of 62, it was something that impacted him when he was growing up.

“I did go through a stage where I wouldn’t take my shirt off at school,” he admitted. “Come into Australia as the little fat kid from England and I was kind of worried because sport, even in primary school and high school, it was such a giant thing… I was the kid that could never get up the big rope.”

Read more: Jono Coleman shares update on his cancer battle, a year after ending chemo

His latest comments come after he left his Studio 10 co-stars in tears in July 2018 when he revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer the year before — but chose to keep it to himself at the time so he could continue working.

He underwent courses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy shorty after his initial diagnosis, before finally going into remission in time for Christmas in 2017.

Our own @jonocoleman opens up about being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer & why he kept it a secret. #Studio10 pic.twitter.com/kQt4aU8Oam

— Studio 10 (@Studio10au) July 19, 2018

In a chat with Starts at 60 in December, the comedian and radio star revealed he’s still cancer-free one year on from his final round of chemo, and opened up on the extensive treatments he’s continuing to have to stop it returning.

“Every month I’m getting a hormone injection in the stomach, which stops any potential cancers from coming back,” he revealed. “Some people have them once every three months but for the time being I’m keen to continue with once a month.”

Along with the injections, Jono is also taking a daily capsule tablet which he said is a “new American drug” that works like the jab to stop cancer cells forming again.

Are you a fan of Jono Coleman? Do you agree with that he’s saying?