I'm A Celeb's Nick Pickard shares unusual nickname after rival soap character

16 November 2023 , 20:00

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I'm A Celeb's Nick Pickard shares unusual nickname after rival soap character

I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star Nick Pickard has revealed the crew on Hollyoaks crew call him 'Ken' after Ken Barlow - and despite his longevity on the soap he isn't going into the jungle to change jobs after 28 years.

Actor Nick, 48, has been playing Tony Hutchinson since 1995. He is Hollyoaks' version of Coronation Street actor Bill Roache who has been on the cobbles since the show began in 1960 as Ken.

Shortly before heading into the jungle camp, Nick said: "The sparks call me Ken on Hollyoaks set and I do see it as a badge of honour. It is to me and I'm proud of the show. The show has been on for 28 years and shows don't stay on 28 years if people don't watch it. It's as simple as that."

He added: "You do worry about soaps at the minute because obviously what's happened to Doctors [ BBC soap axed] and when I first started and when I was younger, Coronation Street and EastEnders where there were on like 20 million viewers. Obviously with the way the world is now with so many different platforms to watch TV on, everyone is struggling.

“But you know, we're still there and it seems to be going strong so I'll stay as long as they want me. We've been told that we definitely go on until at least the 30th anniversary so that's as far as I know and we only ever get one year contracts. You never know they might shove me off after what happens in the jungle!"

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Hollyoaks star Nick Pickard is one of the celebs heading into the jungle (ITV)

Nick likes a midnight snack, but has been trying to cut down on food as his family fear he might shout at someone if he gets hangry in camp. He said: "My missus is always having to go because she says sometimes I've been asleep for a little bit and then I wake up and then I cannot get back to sleep before I've gone and made myself some food.

"So for the last sort of months, she's really been trying to snap it out of me. I've been doing intermittent fasting, so just trying to not eat like throughout the day and even that's been tough. "

He added: "I really don't know what I have let myself in for her. But I mean, I'm sure I'm sure it'll be OK. My mum was so worried about me having a go the last thing she said was 'Nick please don't shout at anyone if they don't bring any stars back'."

*I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! starts Sunday November 19 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Mark Jefferies at the I'm A Celeb camp