Hints and rumours about Colin Baker’s appearance as an inmate of ITV’s gross-a-thon I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! have been confirmed today, as the big man landed in Australia and appeared in a photo shoot for the show.
Following initial rumours, the former Doctor Who star was wished “good luck” on Twitter by David Walliams…
@davidwalliams if I were doing it I would be very grateful and uplifted by your support – x
— Colin Baker (@SawbonesHex) November 4, 2012
But of course, Colin couldn’t say too much as he’s contractually bound not to confirm involvement until the formal announcements are made.
And today they were, with Colin lining up alongside Former Coronation Street actor Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster), (soon to be ex?) Tory MP Nadine Dorries and EastEnders‘ Charlie Brooks (Janine Butcher) former (disgraced) heavyweight boxer David Haye, Pussycat Dolls dancer Ashley Roberts, legendary darts player Eric Bristow, song and dance man Brian Conley, former Birds of a Feather actor Linda Robson and Made in Chelsea oddball Hugo Taylor.
Speaking to The Mirror, Baker revealed that his children – fans of the testicle-eating show – had encouraged him to say yes. He also hopes to lose some weight.
“I am a rather large gentleman and I adore my food,” he says. “I could give up booze with a drop of a hat but food, my gosh there is not even a fridge I can raid in the middle of the night!
“But I am seeing this as an opportunity to lose weight. I am aiming for at least a stone and a half and it would be fabulous if I can. I just then hope I can keep it off once I am out!”
But will it lead to the actor getting more TV work?
“I am intrigued to find out what happens. It won’t be weird going in as me rather than as a character because I still go to a lot of Dr Who conventions as myself. I still watch the show and I think the new Dr Who, Matt Smith, is brilliant.
“I don’t think I would have done this if I was younger but at my time of life, I would be delighted if it did lead to more television.”
Meanwhile, Colin’s previous dismissal of so-called reality TV has been raised by certain fans, with one mentioning “there was me thinking he hated reality TV…”
How embarrassing. This makes me want to watch the show even less than when it has the usual parade of non-entities on it.
In an alternate reality this may be what instigated The Time Wars
Good luck to Colin. Will he wear his mankini in the shower?
Oh Colin, how could you? as you have said in the past, you dislike reality TV (as do the majority of us sane human beings). If your children like this kind of show then this isn’t going to discourage them from viewing proper TV programmes is it? I really hope it is not a money issue as surely not only Doctor Who related jobs like the fantastic Big Finish audios (of which, like many others, you are my favorite Doctor) or the various conventions you thankfully attend, but you also have your own regular newspaper column (in the Bucks Free Press I understand), your theater performances which regularly get rave reviews from both critics and more importantly – the audiene – and the odd TV role now and then… all of which I more than hope provides you with a more than comfortable life for yourself and your family. Good luck Colin in the ‘jungle’ but I can’t deny I’m a little disappointed by this news.