Esther Rantzen
As they arrived back in camp, Brian told the rest of the celebrities that they hadn’t been successful. He told the group about the challenge and said that the reason he and Esther decided against peeling the potatoes was because ‘I started to think then about the recession going on at home....if we had, in front of the British public, destroyed 1000 potatoes there would have been uproar...now they are whole they can be taken back to market or wherever.’
The rest of the celebrities all hugged Brian and said that it was ok that they didn’t come back with the chest. Later Brian admitted to Nicola ‘I don’t know how much longer, I would have stabbed Esther with a potato peeler.’
He also added, ‘I feel really guilty because I’ve ruined David’s birthday.’
‘I was sabotaging, don’t worry’ replied Nicola, ‘I weren’t going to get my question right...I’m being deadly serious.’
Later in the Bush Telegraph Brian admitted that most of the Camp were happy with his and Esther’s decision expect one person, ‘David’s opinion was we should have gone ahead and done it anyway.’
Explaining his reason’s for giving up on the challenge, Brian confessed ‘The other reason I gave up the trial was because if I’d been any longer with Esther I would have stabbed her with a potato peeler.’ He continued, ‘I like Esther she’s great, she’s a great character but when you’re stuck in a one to one situation for a fairly long time with her she does get on your tits.’