John Barrowman has wanted to appear on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ for years.
The 51-year-old actor is looking forward to making friends and getting competitive in camp and he admitted it’s taken him until now to find the time to be on the show because he’s usually contracted to a pantomime over the period the programme takes place.
He said: "It’s taken me so long [to accept] because I haven’t really been available. This is the second time in 10 years that I haven’t done pantomime. I’ve watched I’m A Celebrity religiously for the last 18 years. Well, when I’ve not been on stage.
"I’ve really enjoyed it and I love the competitive aspect of it. I also love the possibility that I’ll walk out of there having some new lifelong friends."
While John’s appearance on ‘I’m A Celebrity…’ came as a surprise to fans, he revealed he’d been in negotiations since the start of the year and agreed a deal before the summer.
He explained: "I went to a meeting with the executives at ITV at the beginning of the year, just after I’d finished panto, and we talked about it for 2018.
"I said I would think about it, so I discussed the idea with [my husband] Scott and I gave them my answer in May or June. I’ve known about this for a long time, but I haven’t told anybody.
"Anyone beyond my sister, Scott and my parents don’t know I’m going in. My friends don’t know I’m going in. I’ve kept it really, really quiet because I didn’t want anybody leaking it.
"Consequently, no one had any idea that I was the question mark that came up last week."
One show the ‘Torchwood’ star had no hesitation in turning down was ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ once he realised he’d been approached to be a contestant, not the host.
He told MailOnline: "I have been asked to do ‘Big Brother’, but I thought they wanted me to present it rather than be in it.
"When they said I was going to be in it, I said, ‘F**k off! No way.’ I’m not in to shows where backstabbing and things go on where it’s detrimental to people and it hurts people."
If there’s any backstabbing or bullying in the camp, John has vowed to be a "fixer".
He said: "If I see somebody bullying or being rude or being detrimental or being an a****** to someone, I will stand up and stick up for them. I don’t want to see anybody speaking down to others."
John Barrowman waited years for I’m A Celebrity appearance
