Huge TV star reveals bosses beg him to do I'm A Celebrity every year but admits he's planning to retire instead

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A POPULAR TV star has revealed bosses have begged him to join I'm A Celebrity each year - but he plans to retire instead.
For over 20 years, famous faces have entered the ITV jungle under the watchful eyes of Ant and Dec.
Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter
Sign up
4
Chris Tarrant has revealed why he doesn't want to do I'm A Celebrity
Credit: PA
4
He said bosses ask him to sign up every year
Credit: Alamy
4
Ant and Dec have hosted the programme since 2002
Credit: Rex
Past winners include Harry Redknapp, Kerry Katona, Vicky Pattison and Sam Thompson.
However, TV legend Chris Tarrant has revealed he doesn't plan on entering the jungle.
Speaking on the RHLSTP podcast, he shared: "I certainly don't want to do I'm A Celebrity, and every year they ask me. Course I don't.
"I've done okay, and I just think 'I really don't want to do that.'
"My Mrs was saying to me things like 'Oh darling it would reignite your career'.
"The last thing I wanna do is reignite my career, I'm trying to stop!'
"I was talking about it cos I sleep rough fishing and stuff.
"I could do a lot of that, and I could do maggots and things.
"I just couldn't stand the people, I really couldn't.'
Last year, Chris revealed he had officially retired after 50 years on-screen.
Judith Keppel became the first person to win £1m on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
The broadcast legend's last project was his six series run Extreme Railways on Channel 5.
Asked if he had retired, Chris, 78, told The Sun: 'Yes. I've stopped.
'I mean I think lockdown really, you just started to get everything in a bit perspective and I thought, I've done this thing for 50 years.
Who has won the jackpot on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has offered hundreds of hopeful contestants the chance to become millionaires, but there has only been a handful of lucky winners.
There have only been five real winners so far on the show as Charles Ingram, who was the third winner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in 2001, had his claim to the prize thrown out because of cheating allegations.
The official winners are...
Judith Keppel In 2000, garden designer Judith Keppel made quiz show history as she became the first ever winner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Judith is also the only woman ever to have won the million-pound prize.
David Edwards Former physics teacher David became the second contestant to win the top prize in April 2001. Following his success, Edwards went on to compete in both series of Are You an Egghead? in 2008 and 2009.
Robert Brydges Oxford-educated banker Robert became the third Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? champion when he won the quiz show several moths after David in 2001. Robert has stayed out of the limelight since his win.
Pat Gibson World champion Irish quiz player Pat won the show in 2004. Amazingly Pat had TWO of his lifelines still available for his final question, something no other winner has managed.
Ingram Wilcox Ingram came close to losing on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2006 as he had used all his lifelines up at the £32,000 mark, but in a shocking twist he went on to scoop the jackpot.
'You know, I don't need the money, without sounding silly.
"So I was thinking, why am I still doing this?'
He presented Who Wants To Be A Millionaire from its 1998 launch until 2014.
The show returned in 2018, but with Jeremy Clarkson taking over as presenter.