08 December 2023 , 16:07
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Nick Pickard's former co-star has admitted he is "gutted" for the actor.
David Tag, who played Sylver McQueen in Hollyoaks, has addressed his ex cast member's time on I'm A Celebrity. Nick became the fourth contestant to be voted off the long-running ITV show on Wednesday night – as he failed to win votes against fellow contestant Josie Gibson.
The TV star ultimately missed out on the jungle crown, despite being a hit with viewers. Nick has been a long-serving member of the Hollyoaks cast, having played Tony Hutchinson since its very first episode back in 1995. David, who also starred in the Channel 4 soap from 2018 to 2022, told The Mirror: "He is such a good guy Nick. I am gutted he went out so early."
David Tag was 'surprised' Nick has already been voted out the show (Channel 4)
Nick became the fourth celebrity evicted from this year's series (James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)The actor said of Nick going in the jungle: "He is a proper loveable kind of guy and everyone would say the same thing. I was surprised he hadn't gone in earlier to be honest because he is the king of Hollyoaks, he has been in it since day one. I am surprised he hasn't gone in sooner but I am so happy he went. He was definitely the right choice for this year."
David added: "From how I know Nick, he is just one of those people who is very magnetic. Everybody is very drawn to him and wants him to succeed and wants him to do well. I am surprised he didn't go further, I wanted him to win definitely."
Corrie's Sue Cleaver says I'm A Celebrity stint helped her to push boundaries
Ahead of his I'm A Celebrity exit, Nick was hit with claims he had a secret game plan. However, Nick's wife Sarah Corrin admitted viewers had yet to see the real him, in that he hasn't shown his full self. Lorraine Kelly questioned whether this could be down to lack of screen time amid other big personalities featuring in drama, Sarah revealed Nick likely did a lot behind the scenes.
It's then that she mentioned she had seen comments about Nick "playing a game", and that his nice nature and him not being caught up in drama could be "his game". But Sarah ruled it out, telling Lorraine: "What you are seeing of him is him, but we haven’t seen all of him, the full him. He's absolutely not [playing a game] he’s being completely himself.
"He will be getting on with everything behind the scenes, he will be getting on and having a good laugh." Upon his jungle exit, Nick was met by Sarah - and the pair were all smiles as they headed off to their hotel room together. Arriving at the hotel, friends, family and ITV crew cheered loudly for the soap star as he walked into the hotel hand-in-hand with Sarah.
Inside he was reunited with former contestants including Fred Sirieix and Frankie Dettori. Speaking to reporters as he arrived, Nick said: "I’m knackered. Hungry. All the usual things." After exiting the show, Nick admitted that the thing that scared him most about being in the jungle was the fact there was very little to eat. He said: “The hunger, without a doubt, is the scariest thing. That’s what I was most worried about, the not eating, so what I’d been trying to do was intermittent fasting - in preparation.”
David is taking part in Middleton Arena’s Christmas panto, Jack and the Beanstalk. More details here.