EXCLUSIVE
Joel
IT is no laughing matter but I’m A Celebrity star Dommett wants to shake the stigma of prostate checks by telling lads: “Don’t fear the rubber glove.”
The comedian’s dad was recently given the all clear from prostate cancer, and this week Joel took part in 100 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 24 hours – all to raise money and awareness for Stand Up To Cancer.
The jungle’s Extra Camp presenter Joel says balls to being embarrassed about having a doctor rummage around your nether regions. He told me: “Go for it, embrace it. You might end up enjoying it.” A blood test alerted doctors to his dad’s illness, but sadly cancer is still affecting Joel. He said: “My mum’s sister is going through it, one of my mum’s best friends passed away from it eight or nine years ago, and the mum of one of my best friends died last year.
“It’s a silly task to do 100 gigs in 24 hours, but it’s a really important cause.” While he’s happily engaged to fiancee Hannah Cooper, Joel still likes getting his oats on tour.
He said: “What I love about Scotland is when you ask for porridge, any time of year, they’ll give it to you.
“Do you know how difficult it is to get a bowl of porridge in Spain? I was like: ‘I know it’s 45C outside, Pablo, but I want porridge, please’.
“I like being healthy. My friends laugh when I come down with my pills, my omega 3s and vitamin C.”
That’s my wedding present sorted for the happy couple then.
■ Stand Up To Cancer is a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4. For more info or to donate, visit standuptocancer.org.
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