Shane Richie’s son is terrified his dad will make a ‘daft’ non-PC gaffe on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and be booted off the series.
The former EastEnders star, 56, is currently second favourite with the bookies to be crowned King of the Castle after becoming a hit with both viewers and campmates courtesy of his cheeky sense of humour and comedy one-liners.
But Shane Nolan, 28, fears his dad might undo his good work by making a ‘silly comment which might offend someone.’
‘He might say something a bit silly’: Shane Richie’s son is terrified his dad will make a ‘daft’ non-PC gaffe on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and be booted off the series
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Shane said: ‘There’s always a worry with an Eighties or Nineties live comic going on live television every night in front of millions of people in 2020.
‘When he’s doing a trial I’m sitting there sweating, I feel like I’m doing the trial and I can’t breathe because he might say something a bit silly and because it’s 2020 it might offend someone.
‘He says things on the phone to me sometimes, nothing racist or homophobic or anything, and I say to him – “you can’t say that in 2020.”
‘You worry because 99 per cent of the population would laugh, but it’s the one per cent which gets you kicked off telly.’
Like father, like son: The former EastEnders star is currently second favourite with the bookies to be crowned King of the Castle after becoming a hit with both viewers and campmates
‘There’s always a worry’: Shane Nolan fears his dad might undo his good work by making a ‘silly comment which might offend someone’ and get him kicked off the show
He added: ‘But at the minute so far so good and if he does say a stupid comment, it won’t change my opinion of him because I think he’s hilarious.’
Shane Snr has managed to maintain his upbeat mood for nearly a week in camp inside Gwrych Castle in Wales, cracking jokes and generally keeping up morale thanks to his blossoming friendships with campmates.
He’s grown particularly close to Radio 1 DJ Jordan North, 30, who has become the target of his many pranks, including Shane’s ‘pull my finger’ breaking wind trick.
However Loose Women star Linda Robson, a colleague of Shane’s ex-wife Coleen Nolan – who is Shane Jnr’s mum – has accused the I’m A Celeb star of ‘acting up for the cameras’, which his son denies.
‘He’s like that all that time’: Linda Robson, a colleague of Shane’s ex-wife Coleen Nolan – who is Shane Jnr’s mum – has accused the star of ‘acting up for the cameras’, which his son denies
But Shane Jnr does, however, warn viewers may soon see a different side to his dad.
He explained: ‘Honestly, he is genuinely like that all that time.
‘The amount of times I’ve pulled that finger and fallen for it is a joke. I’m sick of people saying he’s acting up for the cameras. I had it out with Linda Robson on Twitter the other day, it’s a bit mad.
‘Don’t get me wrong he’s human, when he’s tired and hungry he can be miserable sod – like me. If they start getting no stars in the castle, we could see different sides to different people.
‘He’s human’: Viewers may soon see a different side to his dad, warns Shane, as the actor can be ‘a miserable sod’ when he’s tired and hungry
‘I don’t think he’s got the potential to be booted off for no apparent reason but if somebody is getting on his nerves, he won’t stand for it. Or if he sees somebody being mistreated.
‘But I don’t think it will happen, although Russell Watson might potentially do it and Victoria Derbyshire has got it in her locker.’
Shane Snr signed up for I’m A Celeb amid concerns he is struggling financially following the impact of Covid-19 on theatres and the arts in general, having had a reputation for lavish splashing when he was commanding big-money appearance fees.
The funnyman joked he was going to use his pay cheque ‘to pay off the family credit card’, which Shane Jnr – who is also a live entertainer – insists is not far from the truth.
Prankster: Shane has grown particularly close to Radio 1 DJ Jordan North, who he startled by throwing rocks at the outside toilet while he was on the loo
He said: ‘Just because he’s on telly doesn’t mean he’s a millionaire.
‘He’s had two tours cancelled, then he had panto cancelled, and they’re his money makers so it came at the right time for him.
‘He’s not completely skint. He’s living in Surrey, he’s not doing too bad. But he’s not flushed either, the same as my mum.
‘Everyone thinks I’ve been a millionaire since I was a kid. No. If I was minted, do you think I’d be travelling down to Mindhead to do a gig for Butlins for two hours? I wouldn’t be, would I?’
But if Shane Snr’s finances plunge further into the red, he could always auction off his impressive film memorabilia collection to release some funds.
Parents: Shane Jnr is the son of EastEnders actor Shane Richie and Loose Woman Coleen Nolan, who were married for nine years between 1990-1999
Shane Jnr explained: ‘If he sold all his memorabilia, he would probably be a millionaire.
‘He’s not spending ridiculous money now, he has done in the past, we’ve all made stupid decisions. But you should see his memorabilia, it’s mad.
‘He’s got one of the best Planet of the Apes collections in the country, four 6ft 3in Ninja Turtles in his garden and he’s got giant Spider-Man and Hulk figures.’
Shane Jnr hopes his dad’s successful stint on I’m A Celeb could spark a primetime comeback, saying a ‘Saturday night game show host’ is Shane Snr’s true calling.
There was a period in the Nineties when Shane Snr was one of the UK’s top entertainers and it was during his time in the touring show of Grease where he regularly mixed with A-list company.
Famous family: Shane Jnr will be appearing alongside his mum Coleen on the new series of At Home With The Nolans, which he described as being ‘like the Kardashians but not as fit’
Shane Jnr said: ‘When he was in Manchester doing Grease, around that time West End stars were the most famous people.
‘The Manchester United team always wanted to meet him backstage – I remember David Beckham ringing me up to wish me a happy 10th birthday. I later got a signed shirt from him.
‘The Gallagher brothers also used to bring their mum – she used to watch Grease once a week – and meet up with my dad too.’
Shane Jnr will resume touring the UK with his band (see @iamshanenolan on Instagram) when lockdown finishes and he will also be appearing alongside his mum Coleen on the new series of At Home With The Nolans on QuestRed.
He added: ‘It’s like the Kardashians but not as fit.’