Oct 18 2004
Saville turns down I'm a Celeb £100k because he's scared of creepy-crawlies
By Amy Devine
Daily Record
SIR Jimmy Saville has turned down a £100,000 payday because he is scared of creepy-crawlies.
The veteran broadcaster was invited to take part in the latest series of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.
But he has knocked back the offer - for the second year running.
He said: 'It's nice to be asked but there's no way I'm crawling around the jungle with all those beasties.
'It might give a career boost to some people but I don't have a career, so there's nothing to boost.'
Sir Jimmy also said he would miss his Highland retreat. He currently splits his time between Leeds and his cottage in Glencoe.
'There is simply no way I will be kept away from my beautiful Glencoe home for six weeks,' he said.
'That would be a stupid decision for someone in my situation to make. I gather there are some beautiful women likely to be signed up for the show and I do like the ladies.
'But what about girls from the West Highlands? I'll settle for them any day.'
Sir Jimmy was on a ITV hitlist of more than 20 celebrities for the hit virtual reality show set in the Australian jungle.
Model Sophie Anderton, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and singer Myleene Klass are in the frame.
Other colourful targets include football bad boys Paul Gascoigne and Mark Bosnich.
Operatic teenager Charlotte Church and Wayne Rooney's fiancee Coleen McLoughlin are rated outsiders to make it toOz.
Sir Jimmy said: 'It all sounds very exotic but I had to tell them I was doing other things on the dates they were talking about. The job just wasn't for me.'
he is a creepy crawlie