Doctor Who Star Talks About Flashing Allegations Before He Throws Up and Then Leaves Show
Actor John Barrowman quit Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins just 32 minutes after he arrived at base camp.
The Doctor Who star was part of the sixth series of the Channel 4 reality show, which returned to TV screens on Sunday evening and showed celebrities taking part in SAS winter warfare training in the south islands of New Zealand.
Barrowman, who also opened up about the flashing allegations he faced in 2021 while on the show, could be seen throwing up sometime after the first challenge.
After the contestants put on their uniforms and got ready to see their accommodation, Barrowman started being sick and told the group “I’m out”. Asked by Mark “Billy” Billingham, the chief instructor, if he would like to see a doctor, Barrowman then said: “No... I’m done.”
He added: “I just... it’s not for me, I know who I am and what I’m about, it’s not for me.”
The first challenge involved recruits traversing two parallel bars over a 335ft canyon.
Barrowman’s Sudden Exit Sparks Questions and Controversy
Viewers were shocked and confused by Barrowman’s sudden exit. Many took to social media to express their disbelief, questioning whether he was “paid for that” short stint on the show.
“I hope John Barrowman wasn’t paid for that pathetic effort,” wrote Neil Woodward on X. “What a disgrace.. Please tell me he didn’t get paid for that c**p,” added @Gunnermighty. “He’s bogged off already!” commented Karen Evans.
Barrowman, however, later revealed the real reason behind his departure. In an interview with The Sun, he claimed that a vegan food option was to blame for his ill health. He claimed the producers “made everybody eat vile tofu.”
“I would never eat tofu in my life, but you’re so hungry, you just eat it,” he continued. “Then it was just projectile vomit everywhere and the tofu came up.”
Apparently, the travel to the base camp had caused some motion sickness which hadn’t mixed well with the food.
“I didn’t need this,” he declared. “I don’t need to prove to people who I am. I’m not going to make myself ill or sick or hurt myself in order to try to prove something that I don’t need to prove.”
Barrowman Addresses Flashing Allegations
During the episode, Barrowman addressed the accusations that he had repeatedly exposed himself on the set of the BBC One sci-fi series Doctor Who and its sister show Torchwood.
“The press made the allegation that I was going around putting my d*** on everybody’s shoulders,” he said. “Having that happen to me ruined me, but this course is going to help me push through this and I want people to see the kind of person that I really am.”
He later added: “On Doctor Who and Torchwood, I had to do a lot of nude scenes. If I were being stupid, I would do something stupid. I would shake and waggle or I might do a scene where I might have one of my bollocks hanging out. The press made it out that I was a sexual deviant. We’ve all done stupid things and silly things, but what’s been said about me will never go away now.”
A Look at the Celebrity SAS Lineup
Barrowman wasn’t the only celebrity to face the challenges on Celebrity SAS. The sixth season also included a diverse range of stars, including former Olympic gymnast Ellie Downie, comedian Tez Ilyas, professional basketball player and Love Island star Ovie Soko, world heavyweight champion boxer Lani Daniels, Reality TV Star Bianca Gascoigne, former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw, TV Presenter Cherry Healey, former professional boxer Anthony Ogogo, Love Island contestant Georgia Harrison, reality star Bobby Norris, and former Geordie Shore star Marnie Simpson.
The Verdict: Tofu or the Truth?
Whether Barrowman’s departure was truly due to tofu or a more complex mix of emotions and pressures remains a question for viewers to ponder. One thing is clear, though, the actor’s brief but dramatic stint on Celebrity SAS has certainly generated plenty of buzz and discussion.
