John Barnes vows to ‘buddy up’ with Ann Widdecombe on Celebrity Big Brother 2018

New pal: John Barnes hopes to befriend Ann Widdecombe in the CBB house
Channel 5

John Barnes has revealed he intends to "buddy up" with Ann Widdecombe when he arrives in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

The ex-footballer will make his debut on the Channel 5 reality show on Friday alongside a group of other male celebrities.

Speaking in an interview with the Mirror ahead of his entrance, he explained that his wife was supportive of his decision to appear on the series.

"She is very supportive and was fine with it when I asked her. It’s not like it’s a Love Island situation, which she wouldn’t have been happy with me doing.

“This is very different. Instead I am going to buddy up with Ann and have a lot of interesting debates,” he told the publication.

Barnes also admitted that, like many in January, he’s hoping to shed a few post-Christmas pounds as he hasn't been dieting to prepare for his CBB stint.

“I am carrying a bit of holiday weight right now. In fact, I have been on holiday for a couple of years,” he said.

“And I haven’t been on a diet ahead of going in the house. It’s Christmas, so of course I have eaten a lot. I won’t win body of the year.

"I don’t go to the gym much. I am going to use this opportunity to lose a bit of weight.”

Celebrity Big Brother 2018 contestants - in pictures

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Viewers can also expect the sportsman not to shy away from discussions about racism as he has plenty of views on the subject after dealing with offensive remarks during his career.

“I haven’t suffered racism recently as I am John Barnes, the footballer. Obama doesn’t, Beyoncé doesn’t,” he told the Mirror.

“We don’t need to change people’s opinions of us. If I was John Barnes the milkman, I would have experienced it.

“I am under no illusions. It’s the normal black person walking down the street. Just passing laws saying you are not allowed to be racist won’t work.

"You need an educational system in place.”

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