Pride Patron Antony Cotton Joins I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Manchester Pride are proud to have such a diverse range of fantastic patrons, including actors, singers, sportsmen and more. This weekend however, we will see friend and patron Antony Cotton (Queer As Folk, Coronation Street) join a host of celebrities in the jungle, and so we can add one more to the listof patron specialities: reality star!

Mr. Cotton joins the likes of Mark Wright (The Only Way Is Essex), Freddie Starr and sports personality Fatima Whitbread in the outback for ITV's big ratings show on Sunday night, and we cannot wait to see what the Northern lad will bring to the show! Like other viewers, here at Manchester Pride HQ we have no idea what tricks the show (presented by Ant and Dec) has in-store for the group, but we imagine it will be a far throw away from Sean Tully's pint pulling in Corrie's pub The Rovers. And, no doubt, the jungle 'treats' on offer for the contestants to snack on will most likely not match up to Betty's wonderful hot-pot!

This is not the first time that someone associated with Manchester Pride has been a part of the show. Friend of Manchester Pride Christopher Biggins, who went on to win the show, had this to say on his jungle experience: "I loved every moment, I wouldn't have missed it for the world and I'd never do it again. So beware celebrity's you're in for a bumpy ride..."

Cotton tells the ITV website that his biggest fears include flying and enclosed spaces, which makes us think he may have a challenge or two lined up for him, even just in the helicopters on the way into the jungle! Keeping Manchester Pride proud, Antony told ITV he "can't bear people with no moral code" and hopes "really nice people who look after one another" will make up his company in the jungle!

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! starts on ITV1 this Sunday night. Good luck Mr. Cotton!