Tom Arnold has no idea who Chris Brown and Julia Morris are. There's an even slimmer chance he'll know any of the celebrities he's about to live with in the South African jungle.
But that hasn't stopped the 57-year-old US comedian from signing on to series three of Channel Ten's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! as the reality show's major international drawcard.
More Entertainment News Videos
- Video duration
- 02:50
Entertainment news highlights
Entertainment news highlights
Donald Trump's inauguration performance, Bruce Springsteen's Perth pledge, Ed Sheeran's latest copying accusation and Lion storms the box office.
Up Next
Private Sydney: Mariah releases James Packer break-up song
- Video duration
- 02:54
- Video duration
- 02:54
Private Sydney: Mariah releases James ...
Private Sydney: Mariah releases James Packer break-up song
Pop diva Mariah Carey unleashes a break-up song inspired by her recent parting with Australian billionaire James Packer and PS has the exclusive preview.
Up Next
Apocalypse Now could soon be a video game
- Video duration
- 01:40
- Video duration
- 01:40
Apocalypse Now could soon be a video game
Apocalypse Now could soon be a video game
The famous 1979 Vietnam War flick is being turned into a role playing game, but the developers need $900,000 to get it over the line.
Up Next
Elton John to write Devil Wears Prada musical
- Video duration
- 00:45
- Video duration
- 00:45
Elton John to write Devil Wears Prada ...
Elton John to write Devil Wears Prada musical
Pop star Elton John and Playwright Paul Rudnick are tasked to create a Broadway adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada.
Up Next
Triple J's hottest 100: Top five tracks
- Video duration
- 01:52
- Video duration
- 01:52
Triple J's hottest 100: Top five tracks
Triple J's hottest 100: Top five tracks
Check out the top five tracks of 2016 as voted by triple j listeners.
Up Next
US soap heads to Australia
- Video duration
- 01:17
- Video duration
- 01:17
US soap heads to Australia
US soap heads to Australia
The cast of The Bold and the Beautiful discuss the show's upcoming trip to Australia to celebrate 30 years on air.
Up Next
Trump to restrict immigration, build wall
- Video duration
- 01:49
- Video duration
- 01:49
Trump to restrict immigration, build wall
Trump to restrict immigration, build wall
US President Donald Trump moves to temporarily block immigrants from seven Middle Eastern countries and to construct a Mexican border wall.
Up Next
How Mary Tyler Moore Changed Television
- Video duration
- 02:01
- Video duration
- 02:01
How Mary Tyler Moore Changed Television
How Mary Tyler Moore Changed Television
The New York Times' Virginia Heffernan explains how Mary Tyler Moore brought a new depiction of the American woman to both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Entertainment news highlights
Donald Trump's inauguration performance, Bruce Springsteen's Perth pledge, Ed Sheeran's latest copying accusation and Lion storms the box office.
The Roseanne star admits he's never seen the show and only heard about it through his neighbour of 15 years, singer Robbie Williams, who is said to be a big fan of the franchise.
"I have no idea who anybody is," Arnold says. "And I don't mean to sound like a jerk because I don't assume anybody knows who I am, but I was literally watching it like 'What am I watching?'"
Related Content
Arnold has been joined in the jungle by retired Collingwood player Dane Swan, Olympian Lisa Curry, shockjock Steve Price, My Kitchen Rules alumnus Ash Pollard, actor Jay Laga'aia, singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan, comedian Nazeem Hussain, and former Miss Universe Australia Tegan Martin.
With 60 films under his belt and two young children at home, Arnold says he's leaving his cloistered Hollywood life behind to challenge himself.
He also wants to quit chewing Nicorette – a 10-year habit despite never smoking – and cut down on caffeine.
"I just thought 'What is the most uncomfortable thing I can do that I can tell my kids about when they're teenagers and hate me?'"
"When I was young I had hard jobs. I worked in a meat-packing plant on the kill floor for three years. I bailed hay for years and worked in the fields, but for 35 years I've had a pretty smooth life.
"There's nothing glamorous about this experience. It is so far out of my comfort zone but I guess I just thought I wanted to do something that was very uncomfortable."
The comedian made his household name starring in '90s sitcom Roseanne alongside then-wife Roseanne Barr. He went on to star opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger – still his best friend – in 1994's film True Lies.
Most recently, Arnold has become known for his politics as a staunch opponent of US President Donald Trump, and in December claimed to have footage of Trump making derogatory remarks on camera. They never surfaced.
Arnold says he dreads being disconnected with so much happening in the United States, and just days before his departure for South Africa was encouraging hackers to locate Trump's unreleased tax returns and archived, unreleased footage of Trump's The Apprentice.
"I made sure before I left to hand over all my social media to somebody I trust. They are going to notify me if impeachment proceedings start," he says.
While the Iowa-born comedian doesn't want to be the insufferable camp resident, life in South Africa was already testing him on arrival.
"I've broken 10 times since I landed here, so I'm saying the hungrier I get, I will probably be the crabby one."
Arnold said he was glad the show isn't airing in the US, so he can't embarrass his family.
"The idea of being with celebrities that intimately is just terrifying to me. I'd never do it if it was in America. That's just terrible."
(This journalist travelled to South Africa as a guest of Channel Ten.)