Presenter Danny Baker has revealed his appearance on the current series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! will be his last on British television.
Nearing his 60th birthday, he compared the programme to Broadway and said he couldn’t think of a better final programme to take part in as he considers a move to America next year.
The father-of-three said: “I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! is a Broadway musical in television terms.
“I have been doing telly now for 40 years, I am 60 next year and I’ve got no ambition to be on telly anymore.”
Our newest addition to the #ImACeleb Jungle is radio & telly legend @prodnose! 🙊 https://t.co/cN2HsbTvWS pic.twitter.com/VRrpi7foEW
— I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) November 16, 2016
“Next summer I am even thinking about living in America. So when this came around, rather than disappearing quietly, I thought ‘why not do one last big television programme?’ and why wouldn’t you do this show? It’s great.”
He added that he hoped his presence would be “good for morale” and promised to bring “exhaustive” showbiz anecdotes and amusing show tunes to the jungle camp mates.
His arrival on Thursday will not only be a surprise for the rest of the team, but also for his friends and colleagues who he revealed he hadn’t told.
Baker will also be joined in the jungle by Homes Under The Hammer presenter, Martin Roberts – who has already revealed he is “freaking out” about taking part in the Bushtucker Trials.
There's about to be a rumble in the Jungle! Meet new @prodnose & @TVMartinRoberts 🚁✨ #ImACeleb https://t.co/2HTfgKahni pic.twitter.com/HTN4ijzyFq
— I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) November 16, 2016
But the 53-year-old, who fears claustrophobia and large wasps, vowed he would make his two children proud.
Also admitting that he had yet to let his own children in on his latest adventure, he said: “My kids really are going to absolutely wet themselves when they see me eat kangaroo testicles.
“They will be beside themselves and they will go completely bonkers I am doing it – they don’t know yet.
“I have been known for property for so long and it’s nice to branch out and for people to get to know the real me.
Swapping property for a hammock in the #ImACeleb Jungle... It's @TVMartinRoberts! 🏡🌴 https://t.co/BlbLJhFOu3 pic.twitter.com/47Pa1MhQjm
— I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) November 16, 2016
“I am excited and I am also nervous, I am not big about wasps and I get claustrophobic, which is a worry.
“The Bushtucker Trials are freaking me out. I keep waking up in the middle of the night thinking about it. Last night I had to turn the lights on. I was imagining being locked in and I was having a full on nightmare. But I think it’s too late now to do anything about it.”
Describing himself as a “comforter,” he added that he would be a “shoulder to cry on around the campfire when the going gets tough,” but said that being away from his wife and children – and coffee and wine – would be a serious challenge.
.@joeldommett will be facing his fear of heights again on tomorrow's #ImACeleb when he takes on The Great Ascent! ⏫⬆️ pic.twitter.com/tZzs9ChFfR
— I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) November 16, 2016
And that shoulder may well be needed by the end of Danny and Martin’s first day on the show as Joel Dommett faces his own greatest fear – of heights – in The Great Ascent.
:: I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! continues on Thursday night on ITV at 9pm.
