OUR STRAIGHT MATE, DR CHRIS BROWN

From Bondi Vet to The Living Room, we love Dr Chris Brown on TV, especially with desperate celebrities stranded in the jungle!

Is your python always that big or are you just pleased to see us?

DNA: Along with Julia Morris, you’ve hosted I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here for a few seasons now. Has there been a standout moment?

Dr Chris Brown: It’s those times where it gets flipped on its head and, as hosts, we have the pain inflicted on us. That’s usually a result of me being stupidly bold enough to think I can be better than the celebrities at eating disgusting things or performing difficult feats. On one occasion, Shane Warne [cricket player] couldn’t eat a dish called Surstromming, which is pickled herring. I thought I’d show them and decided to eat it. I thought my job as a vet had given me a strong stomach, but it promptly came back up, on set and on TV!

Do you ever feel emotional when certain contestants leave the jungle?

Yeah, it’s not just the viewers who learn a lot about them, we do too, and they become our favourites. There are times we’re disappointed they’re going home because they’ve given so much. They let us into their world and tell us about their new take on life from the experience. It’s cathartic and you can’t help bonding. It’s the people who really get under our skin and fire back that we like!

You really enjoy the show, don’t you?

It’s my favourite time of year! I get to go on a working holiday in a part of the world that intrigues me. I get to do vet work on the weekends with different animals. It’s an amazing dream.

You get to do vet work on African wildlife? Yes, because I’ve got to know the local vets and if they’ve got a tricky case or need an extra pair of hands they give me a call. Some cases are serious and some are bizarre. For instance, we had to retrieve four lions that escaped from Kruger National Park and ended up on a cattle farm. Obviously they were having a great time there! I had to capture the lions before anyone could harm them. But there are comical times, too, like the hippo that just walked into a resort, saw a swimming pool and plonked itself in the middle! Trying to remove a hippo from a swimming pool is not easy!

Last time we spoke, you talked about gay animals, supporting the “made this way” arguement. Is there still debate in this area? It’s become accepted that there are homosexual relationships in a lot of species, and probably all species, to be honest. There are two male penguins in Sydney’s Wild Life Zoo who adopted a discarded egg and raised it. Penguins are always the standout because they form such distinct pairs. In recent years there’s

been examples of swans doing it, too, and lots of others. I had two horses on our farm who I reckon were gay.

You must occasionally end up in a gay bar… when you do, do you get hit on?

I happened to be in Iceland during their Pride, which is definitely unique. When you’re out partying with mates, especially overseas, you often end up in a gay bar without realising it. You look around and the penny drops! But, yeah, they’re always a great time. I’m pretty clueless when it comes to being hit on. If it’s happening, I’m probably not aware of it. I’ll just assume someone is being very friendly, wellmannered and welcoming!

Beau Ryan [Amazing Race] recently told us he thinks you are hot and that he envies your pecs and six-pack. What do you say to Beau?

I think he may be fishing for a return compliment there! [Laughing.] He’s got one of the best rigs on the planet! Beau’s a lot of fun, and no one takes better care of their rig than him. It’s very kind, what he says, but I think he should be talking about himself!

Who’s your gay man crush?

I know Beau’s desperate for me to say him but that would be too easy! I love the guys from Mumford And Sons. They toured last year, but I missed them because my favourite bands all tour around January while we’re filming. You’re often compared to cartoon characters like Mr Incredible, Roger Ramjet and Chesty Bonds. Are there any new ones?

Every time a new Toy Story film comes out, I get Buzz Lightyear. He always gets a good run.

Is it the voice and stature?

To be honest, I think it’s just the jaw!

You really would be the perfect poster boy for Chesty Bonds.

Well, they’ve got to pay for it! I’m sick of giving them the free publicity. [Laughs.] That’s why you don’t see me in a white singlet. I’m basically just an ad for them!

Who is the most impressive person you’ve ever met?

Nelson Mandela, which was a pretty incredible and profound moment, but I buggered it up. It was one of those times where you meet someone you really look up to and it goes badly. He was giving a talk at Sydney University around the time of the Tampa crisis and John Howard was going to be there, too. There were protests at the entrance, so they switched his talk to the Veterinary Science Conference Centre. I was skipping a lecture, sitting outside in the sun, when all these federal police cars pulled up and out gets Nelson Mandela. I walked over with two other mates, and the first one said, “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for the world,” and the second said, “You’re such an inspiration.” When it got to me, I thought all the good stuff had been said so I’d go a bit offbeat and said, “I know you’re a big believer in the power of education but I just skipped a lecture and look how well it worked out for me!” He gave me a completely non-plussed look, politely shook my hand and walked off, leaving me to regret that moment for the rest of my life! Well, it’s probably better than, “Who would you turn gay for!”

[Laughing.] That’s true!

Once on The Living Room you pretended to be an American soap star. What’s the story about how that almost came true?

One of the shows I do in the US is on CBS, and while I was there doing publicity an appearance on The Bold And The Beautiful was part of the schedule. I was concerned that they thought I was an actor rather than a vet, but if they did want me to act, I’d go along with it. I decided to have a go. My character was meant to be Ridge’s Australian nephew. I learned my script. But, the day before, someone from production called checking on my work visa. I had a journalist visa, which didn’t qualify me to act, so at the last minute the whole thing was canned. But we did have Katherine Kelly Lang [Brooke Logan] in the jungle with us so it feels like I’ve done The Bold And The Beautiful!

Who has been the greatest influence on your career?

My dad. He still works as a vet. I learned a lot of skills from him but I also learned the really important stuff, like how to relate to people and comfort them in their time of need. I respect his compassion and have tried to make that part of my life as well.

Do you have a grooming tip for us?

I don’t wash my hair. It probably sounds gross but if you don’t shampoo your hair, which removes all the natural oils, then it will normalise itself. If you can get through the first month of not washing it, your hair will be more manageable. I swim in the ocean every day and find salt from the sea is enough.

Have you ever had a wardrobe malfunction? On I’m A Celebrity a couple of years back, I wore a very tight pair of shorts for a trial episode and Carson Kressley was a contestant. He informed me that he was finding it hard to focus on the trial because he could see my moose knuckle. At the time I wasn’t familiar with the term and, thanks to the poor African internet, I couldn’t Google it either. So I had to draw my own conclusions, which turned out to be correct! Briefs, fitted boxers or free balling?

I’ve always been a briefs man. I find boxers too loose and they ride up. With briefs you know where they’re going to be and they do their job holding everything in place!

MORE: I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here returns January 5 on Network Ten. For more on Dr Chris and his campaigns for animals go to: www.drool.pet

Carson Kressley told me he was finding it hard to focus because he could see my moose knuckle!