INTERVIEW
The royal butler-turned-reality TV star, 65, discusses his cancer scare, stripping off for charity, making friends for life and why he can’t wait for William to become King…
Paul Burrell is perhaps best known for his time in royal service, working as the late Princess Diana’s butler for 10 years. But now, the 65-year-old is turning his hand to something very different, swapping the corridors of Sandringham for the bright lights as he takes part in this year’s The Real Full Monty: Jingle Balls.
Last year, Paul was faced with the devastating news that he had prostate cancer, telling Closer, “Last year, when I was wrapping presents, I was crying. I’d only just been diagnosed, and so I was thinking I wasn’t going to live to see my grandchild.”
But having undergone hormone therapy and radiotherapy, the star revealed last month that he had finally been given the all clear.
And following his own journey through cancer, Paul is just one of the famous faces whipping his kit of for a good cause – joining forces with a host of celebs, including Ashley Cain, 33, and Gemma Collins, 42, as they raise awareness for the disease. Here, we talk to Paul about his experience on the show.
What made you want to do The Real Full Monty: Jingle Balls?
I never thought I could take my clothes off in front of a live audience, but I quickly realised the message was much bigger than a naked person. My message was that I am the one in eight – and because of early treatment, I can live a longer life. When I was doing the show, I’d had my treatment but didn’t know if the cancer had gone. So my aim is to reach men 50+. They’ll be sitting with their families at home, and I hope that causes a conversation.
Daughters may say, “Dad, we think you should get checked, because we love you and want you to be around for a long time.”
Who did you get on with most?
I didn’t think I’d get on with Gemma Collins as well as I did. When we first met, she screamed, “No, not Paul Burrell – he’s a bigger drama queen than me!” She said she was going to have me as her butler in her house, and she actually did. In one episode, she dressed me up as her “butler in the buff”. Ben [Cohen, one of the other celebs taking part] did say my bottom was very nicely rounded. It’s from all the oestrogen I’m on – I'm quite Kardashian now!
How did you build up the confidence to strip off on stage?
It’s a very slow process, but once you build this camaraderie with the group, you don’t want to let anyone down. I was lucky to share my dressing room with Ben – I call him Big Ben – and I didn’t want to let him down, or anyone else. We all became very, very close. I h
