Celeb Big Brother star and 'Gypsy King' planning 'mad' Christmas stunt 'for the people'

EXCLUSIVE: The popular traveller, 66, who won Celebrity Big Brother, plans to jump into the ice-cold waters three times to 'put a smile' on people's faces over the festive period

Dan Grennan Audience Writer

14:00, 29 Nov 2025

He's not doing it for charity(Image: Getty Images)

Paddy Doherty is preparing himself to jump into the "ice-cold" waters of Salford Quays to spread joy this festive period. The Celebrity Big Brother winner told the Daily Star he is undertaking the "mad" challenge to "put a smile" on people's faces.

He said: "On Christmas Eve, to put a smile on people's faces, I am going to jump into the freezing cold water at Salford docks. I am doing it for the people. "I am going to jump into the ice-cold water three times." The Big Fat Gypsy wedding star added that he wasn't doing it for charity just for the "craic".

"It's not for charity or anything like that," h e said. "It is just to put a smile on people's faces so they say, 'that man is mad'.

[Paddy wants to 'put a smile on people's faces']

Paddy wants to 'put a smile on people's faces'(Image: Getty Images)

"They'll have a laugh and I enjoy putting a smile on someone's face. It's all for the craic. It won't put a smile on my face."

Last March, the popular reality TV personality responded to tributes from "beyond the grave" after being "killed off" by sick internet trolls. He was forced to post a video to his channels reassuring fans that "I'm alive" after a fake news site announced his death due to a massive heart attack. The bombshell sparked a wave of emotional tributes to the Celebrity Big Brother winner and sent his phone into meltdown.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star, Paddy said: "I don't know who's doing it but they must have a sad life to do a thing like that. It's sick, some people must be jealous.

"The whole thing p***** me off and it knocked the stuffing out of my wife, she's on the edge of her nerves as it is.

"My phone was going nuts with calls and messages. A lifelong friend called me crying, I asked her: 'did I have to die for you phone me up?'," he joked.

[Paddy won Celebrity Big Brother]

Paddy won Celebrity Big Brother(Image: MDM)

While the ordeal sickened Paddy, he admitted he was touched by the outpouring of love from fans and friends.

"The love I received was unbelievable," he said, after being able to read his own tributes from beyond the grave.

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"I didn't know that many people cared. I'm so happy and pleased and just like there's no end to the sea, there's no end of the love I have for the people who contacted me."

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