I’M A Celebrity’s Cliff Parisi has revealed his parents were forced to sleep rough to stop their evil landlady’s scheme to buy him and his sister.
The actor – who is best known for playing Minty in EastEnders up until 2010 – had a heartbreaking start to his life with his parents forced to sleep in a London park with newborn Cliff after their landlady threw them out when they rejected her offer to buy the siblings.
His parents Irene and George were both teenagers at the time and were kicked out by the evil landlady.
But when they ended up sleeping rough, social services took the children into care, devastating the couple.
“Mum and Dad jumped on a bus with us but it was chased by a police car and stopped.
“Me and my sister were ripped from their arms and they were both left sobbing by the side of the road.”
The siblings were eventually returned to their parents – but the heartbreaking events were hidden from them by their parents for decades.
Talking to Call the Midwife’s Heidi Thomas for her book The Life and Times of Call the Midwife, the actor added: “When my mum told me that story last year, I was quite upset.
“I didnt know who I felt more sorry for, them or me. It was a bit shocking.”
Cliff will enter the camp tomorrow night alongside Corrie star Andrew Whyment.
Speaking ahead of his entrance into the jungle, he was asked about his phobias, he said: “Everything. I am a Londoner. We dont have animals! I am even allergic to cats.”
He added: “I dont like any of that stuff. And when I go to the zoo, I am looking at the animals from behind glass.”
“I do think the trials will be scary but I will still give them a go. I will try my best to win the stars.”
