His co-stars on the BBC One show, Billy Byrne and Gabrielle Blackman, insisted on Lorraine earlier today that he hasn't changed on screen – despite accusations his gentlemanly personality isn't genuine.
The presenter, 56, was blasted for being "fake" by fans after he gave Anne Hegerty his pillow when she was upset.
However, Billy said: "You're seeing the real Nick Knowles that we've known for 20 years."
Lorraine Kelly replied: "That's the thing, you know him really well and what you see is what you get. So that's what you thought he would be like?"
Billy continued: "He's a very generous guy and if anyone is struggling he'll come and buck them up."
Lorraine said: "You can tell that with the trials and he was helping. Giving his pillow away!"
Gabrielle insisted: "That is classic Nick. He can't help but help people. He needs to do stuff."
They also suggested Nick had quit being vegan. Commenting on the TV star's diet in the jungle, Gabrielle noted: "He's already eaten meat."
In a July 2017 interview with the Daily Telegraph Nick described himself as a "vegan flexitarian".
The star revealed he is vegan "80 per cent of the time" and vegetarian the rest.
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They reported he had become such a fan of vegan diet that he now co-owns a vegan restaurant in Shrewsbury and was set to invest in a second in Richmond.
He has also penned a "vegan cookbook for carnivores" called Proper Healthy Food, described as "hearty vegan and vegetarian recipes for meat lovers".
It comes after Nick was blasted by vegans who say the show is “unjustifiably cruel” to animals.
Followers of the plant-based diet are angry because bushtucker trials in the jungle include eating animals’ testicles and gruesome insects.
Lex Rigby, campaigns manager at vegan charity Viva, said: “The challenges on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here are completely unnecessary.
“They go against what it means to be vegan – opposing animal abuse in all its forms, including entertainment, and treating all animals with respect and compassion.
“The stunts are wildly irresponsible and unjustifiably cruel.”
Dominika Piasecka, of The Vegan Society, said: “We were surprised to hear Nick Knowles is confirmed to be appear on I’m a Celebrity because the show involves eating and using animals.
“Perhaps Nick has found a way to survive as a vegan in the I’m a Celebrity jungle, which we’ll be interested to learn about."
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