TV presenter Nick Knowles’ tight red pants will be auctioned off to raise funds for a life-changing op, it has been revealed.
It is hoped the 56-year-old’s figure-hugging swimming trunks – which he wore throughout his stint in the Aussie jungle for ITV’s I’m A Celebrity – will help a teenager born without leg bones undergo surgery in the US.
Luca Railton, 15, suffers from Bilateral Tibial Hemimelia, a very rare condition that affects about one in three million people.
Born without a tibia or knee for his right leg and only a partial tibia for his left, Luca has endured multiple operations and requires £120,000 for additional treatment.
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The teen’s family, from Bath, hope Nick’s budgie smugglers could significantly boost their fundraising efforts.
Teresa Railton, Luca’s mother, explained DIY SOS host Nick was a friend of friends and was only too happy to hand over his old pants for the charitable effort.
“A lot of people were talking about them on I’m a Celebrity,” she is reported to have told the BBC.
“We’re hoping they will raise thousands of pounds.”
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She added: “As Luca grows he needs further tweaking to improve his mobility. Last October, it was confirmed he needed further surgery.”
Good sport Nick commented on Twitter on Saturday: “I am setting aside the embarrassment of extending this story in order to help Luca – all bids appreciated.”
I am setting aside the embarrassment of extending this story in order to help Luca – all bids appreciated https://t.co/vDxsBMhfAw
— Nick Knowles (@MrNickKnowles) 19 January 2019
He originally revealed his plans to make his infamous underwear available for bids during an appearance on Lorraine last month.
He explained: “Weirdly, I’ve been asked if people could take it to auction. If anyone would actually bid for it I don’t know, but we’ll put them up for auction so we can make some money and put that towards one of the charities I support.”
Hopefully there will be Nick Knowles super-fans out there who will stump up! We don’t want to know about your plans for Nick’s pants, though, thanks.
TV fave Nick, who insisted it was more practical for him to complete camp chores without trousers or shorts, also jokingly said sorry to viewers for subjecting them to an eyeful of his groin during his time on the reality show.
He said on This Morning: “Can I publicly apologise for the red budgie smugglers? They were all I had left to wear.”
The auction is due to continue until Saturday February 9.
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