contestants

Name: Antony Worrall Thompson
Age: 51
Celebrity supporters: Ainsley Harriott, Rory Bremner, Penny Smith
Special skills: Cooking, growing organic vegetables

If food rations are low, how will you survive?
"I would kill a snake and cook it – if I could actually catch one! I have eaten a snake before and it was all right. It was a cross between eel and chicken. I would be prepared to eat anything. I practiced on a scorpion the other day, I don’t think the scorpion liked it but it was pretty tasteless! I found a company and sent for it on the internet, it was dead and was in vodka. It was really crunchy. I think it is quite a good source of protein."

What do your family think of you heading off to Oz?
"My wife thinks I am absolutely barking but she is fully behind me now although it took a bit of persuading. The kids are quite excited."

Who did you vote for last series?
"I voted for Tara, because I thought she went in with lots to lose in many ways but came out of it really well and she mucked in. She had vulnerability as well as strength. And Tony was great, he just potters along doesn’t he with logs and all that nonsense? The one that surprised me was Christine Hamilton, she was the one I thought I would hate, but ended up really liking her. Rhona was brilliant, I mean she was the sort of catalyst that sparked everyone off, I loved her, she is a really feisty and ballsy girl."

What are you going to miss most?
"I am going to miss a decent bed, a shower, well I suppose there are some washing facilities there but a hot shower, twice a day, more often then not. And I will miss decent food. I grow my own organic food in the garden so I will miss that."

Are you looking forward to cooking in camp?
"I am one of those chefs that doesn’t mind working in small spaces, I have had challenges cooking on a campfire before now and in a caravan so I am okay with that. I think it will be quite challenging, little arguments about cooking could be quite good. But there is a different leader every day isn’t there? So I presume they would decide who cooked. But I am happy to cook, when we go on holiday and book a villa, people are surprised that I like to cook in the villa and not go out to restaurants. I will miss a great roast or a great steak. When I get home I will be gagging for a piece of meat. I am sure there will be some chicken or whatever there but I shall look forward to a very hearty meal - I do like a roast."

Do you think you'll get along with the other celebs?
"I’m sure I will be fine, I am a bit of a practical joker so I am sure I will get on some people’s nerves but you have got to make it interesting. I learned from Goldie in Big Brother that you don’t go blazing into these things. In fact I am quite a shy person when I first meet people but that will be my challenge really. I won’t want to put spiders into people’s beds because I wouldn’t like it done to me! I’m sure there will be some little things up my sleeve."

Will your fellow chefs be supporting you?
"I think for the most part, other chefs will be fine about me going on a show like this one. I think I get on quite well with Delia now, there have been some words in the past but it is all old news and we have sorted our differences. The only one I don’t really get on with, I mean it is public knowledge, is Gordon Ramsay. But whatever he wants to say he can say I mean it is water off a duck’s back to me, he has said it all, I cant think of much worse he can say about me."

What survival skills do you have?
"I’ve absolutely no skills that will help me apart from growing vegetables but that won’t be of much use. I’m pretty hopeless about the house, building cabinets and cupboards. I will get stuck into everything if someone else can tell me what to do. I will be a good leader but if it means building something I’m not great at that. I am a practical person without being a master at any of those things. I can’t even switch a computer on, that is the sort of man I am. I’m more earthy. As long as I can have a good wash from time to time then I will be fine."