John Barrowman was left “flustered” as he interviewed a naked builder while standing in for Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning.
The former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here contestant teamed up with his fellow campmate Emily Atack to present today’s edition of the magazine show while regulars Willoughby and Schofield take a break for Easter.
Speaking to body positive activists and participants from Channel 4’s new series Naked Beach, Barrowman tripped over his words as he addressed builder Ben Whittaker.
“You can tell this yourself, but you are looking quite handsome down there on the end,” he told Whittaker, who also works as a plus-size male model.
His remark prompted co-host Atack to dissolve into laughter, as Barrowman went on to joke that he was “celebrating [his] love handles right now with everybody.”
“I got a little flustered there,” he admitted, before composing himself and asking his guest about the body image pressures faced by men.
Discussing his latest presenting gig with The Sun yesterday, Barrowman revealed that he and Atack would tone down their humour while appearing on the family-friendly show.
“If you want to be naughty, you can be naughty – but within the limitations, we’re not going to do anything stupid or outrageous because we know the time slot,” he told the publication.
“It’s not after 9pm, it’s in the morning, so there’s restrictions that we have, we’re not going to be rude or overtly disgustingly gross. That’s saved for evening television.”
Barrowman said that he was looking forward to learning from his friend’s presenting style, telling the paper: “Emily pointed out that they’ve never really teamed up an older gay man with a younger woman.
“I might be 52, even though I still see myself as 27, but I can give her advice and I’m sure there will be things that she does that I can learn from.”
The actor and singer has previously appeared on the show alongside Willoughby as a replacement for Schofield.
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV from 10.30am
