I’m A Celebrity’s newest arrival Cliff Parisi has been very candid in admitting his motivation for doing the show is mostly financial.
The former EastEnders star has been confirmed as one of two new campmates joining the line-up later this week, alongside fellow soap actor Andrew Whyment, and had no qualms in saying “the taxman” was behind his decision to enter the jungle.
“What made me sign up? The taxman,” he told The Mirror. “I have got a bill I need to pay.
“Like everyone at this time of year, you go, ‘Oh no. Again...’ You would think I earn a lot of money but I don’t. I work for the BBC, so [my salary] ain’t that big.”
Cliff added: “I had a meeting about this earlier on in the year, and I thought about it long and hard and said no. And then as I got an estimate for my tax, I phoned them up and said, ‘Is it too late to say yes?’ So here I am.”
Despite his reasoning for taking part, Cliff added that he hoped I’m A Celebrity will turn out to be an “amazing experience” for him, saying: “Life throws up things like this for you, and if you don’t take them you are a bit of a mug.
“So I give myself a bit of a talking to, and then I spoke to the accountant and he made my mind up.”
Cliff is best known for his role as Minty in EastEnders, and more recently joining the cast of Call The Midwife.
He’ll be joined in the jungle by Andrew Whyment, who plays Kirk Sutherland in Coronation Street.
I’m A Celebrity airs every night on ITV at 9pm.