Yahoo News Who is Nick Pickard? Meet the I'm A Celebrity star
The Hollyoaks actor has a flare for cooking and a famous brother.
Hollyoaks star Nick Pickard is taking time out from the soap and heading into the jungle for I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
To fans of the E4 soap, Pickard will feel like a member of the family.
But for anyone not so familiar with Hollyoaks' Tony Hutchinson - here's what you need to know about TV actor Pickard.
What has Nick Pickard said about I'm A Celebrity?
The 48-year-old soap star said: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and as soon as I was approached, I said ‘yes’.
"I am not quitting Hollyoaks to take part. My bosses have been really supportive of me doing it."
And Pickard has always watched the reality show with his daughter, and so he is excited to make her proud.
He said: “It’s been so hard keeping it a secret and whilst she will be fuming I didn’t tell her, I know she will also be happy. I hope I can make her proud."
Soap stalwart
Pickard was one of the original cast members of Hollyoaks when the soap launched in 1995 on Channel 4, focusing on a group of young friends at college.
When he was introduced to screen Tony Hutchison was just a young teenage student.
But during his 28 years on the show viewers have seen him grow up, run his own restaurant, become a father and a businessman, battle cancer and marry multiple times.
Famous family
Pickard got into acting at a young age, studying at the famous Sylvia Young Theatre School, along with his younger brother John.
As a child he acted alongside a young Christian Bale in a film role, appeared in EastEnders and was also cast in BBC children's school drama along with brother John.
John became a recognisable face as a child when he was cast alongside Gary Olsen in popular sitcom 2point4 Children.
When Nick shot to fame as Tony in Hollyoaks, John eventually joined him 10 years later as his onscreen brother Dominic Reilly.
Camp chef potential
For years Tony ran a restaurant in Hollyoaks and so fans were used to seeing him in chefs whites.
It turns out that Pickard has picked up some of Tony's cooking expertise over the years.
In 2007 he took part in ITV reality show Soapstar Superchef with brother John.
And in 2011 he reached the final of Celebrity MasterChef.
So could Pickard be jostling around the campfire eager to be cooking for his campmates?
He certainly already has food on his mind. He said: "I will be the person saying: ‘Have you finished?’ When we eat, I will hoover any of the leftovers up!"
