John Barrowman would like his title to be gender fluid if he wins I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

John Barrowman has said he would like his title to be gender fluid if he wins I'm A Celebrity.
John Barrowman who is appearing in the new series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. Picture; PAJohn Barrowman who is appearing in the new series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. Picture; PA
John Barrowman who is appearing in the new series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. Picture; PA

The Torchwood and Doctor Who actor is one of the contestants going Down Under for the upcoming series of the ITV show, which crowns a King or Queen of the Jungle at the end.

“I would be over the moon if I won,” he said. “I would be the King or Queen of the Jungle.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Barrowman, who married his husband in 2013, said he was ready to embrace the gruelling trials on the show.

The Torchwood and Doctor Who actor is one of the contestants going Down Under for the upcoming series of the ITV show, which crowns a King or Queen of the Jungle at the end.The Torchwood and Doctor Who actor is one of the contestants going Down Under for the upcoming series of the ITV show, which crowns a King or Queen of the Jungle at the end.
The Torchwood and Doctor Who actor is one of the contestants going Down Under for the upcoming series of the ITV show, which crowns a King or Queen of the Jungle at the end.

But he confessed he was dreading any coffin-style challenges.

“If they put me in a box like a coffin, I know I am going to have a problem,” said the 51-year-old.

“I will have to really figure that one out when it happens as I know filming Torchwood, there was a scene where we filmed in a coffin. They put me in a coffin in a drawer and I couldn’t do it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was see-through and so I could see space but I couldn’t do it. I had a panic.

“That might be the challenge that is most fearful for me. But realistically, you know they are not going to do anything that hurts you.”

Harry Redknapp is among those who will head into the jungle for the new series of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The football manager, 71, is among the 10 stars confirmed for the ITV series, which will this year be hosted by Declan Donnelly and Holly Willoughby.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He will join DIY SOS host Nick Knowles, actor and entertainer John Barrowman, pop stars James McVey of The Vamps and Fleur East, former EastEnders star Rita Simons, Coronation Street actress Sair Khan, The Chase’s Anne Hegerty, Inbetweeners actress Emily Atack and Hollyoaks actor Malique Thompson-Dwyer in the new series.

Redknapp said he does not think the programme will be more challenging than being a football manager, although he is admittedly none the wiser.

Speaking ahead of venturing into the Australian jungle, he said: “There’s nothing tougher than being a manager of a football team when things aren’t going well.

“When the results are bad, believe you me, being a manager is a very tough, lonely occupation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“You feel responsible, however many people support your team every week. The buck stops with you. You haven’t got many friends when it’s not going well as a football manager.

“So no, I don’t think doing this will be tougher.”

He added: “But to be honest, I have not actually watched the programme. I watch sport all day and all night when I’m at home and we are out three to four nights a week.”

Redknapp does appear to know the troubles that await him in terms of I’m A Celebrity’s often meagre diet, but he is not too fussed about it as he regularly skips breakfast and lunch.

He said: “I have got bad eating habits. I can go all day without eating until the evening. Eating won’t be a problem for me.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The former Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham manager, and father of retired footballer Jamie Redknapp, also said that his sporting colleagues will be surprised to know he has signed up to the show.

“My wife thinks I am mad. She has seen the show and she has told me I should watch it before I do it,” he said.

“My son, Jamie, thinks I am definitely not the full shilling.”

However, he said his grandchildren were “really excited” and that he was looking forward to being able to “exaggerate” his stories when he finally emerges from the jungle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said he would struggle the most at being separated from his wife, Sandra.

“We do everything together,” he said.

“I have been with Sandra for 54 years and I hate being away from her.”

Now in its 18th series, the programme will see long-term presenter Ant McPartlin absent for the first time.

He and his presenting partner Donnelly have hosted the show since it began in 2002, but he is taking a break from his TV jobs following his arrest for drink-driving earlier this year.

I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! starts on Sunday November 18 on ITV.