Contestant Tina Malone calls Splash! 'garbage'

Contestant Tina Malone calls Splash! 'garbage'
Contestant Tina Malone calls Splash! 'garbage' (Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Tina Malone has said new reality TV show Splash! is 'garbage', despite being a contestant. The Shameless actress, who has appeared in several celebrity shows, suggested she likes pocketing the pay cheques, but isn't actually a fan of reality television, reported The Sun. Speaking on Liverpool radio station Juice FM, the actress even urged people not to vote for her when she appears on the show - which sees Olympic bronze medallist Tom Daley teaching stars how to dive - because she'll get paid even if she gets the boot. Tina, 49, said diving off a three-metre board into an 18ft pool was 'absolutely horrendous'. She continued: "I'm 50 years of age in two weeks. I haven't seen my final swimming costume yet - but I hope it's going to be a tent. But on a serious note I'm an actor, not a celebrity. It's the big fat cheques that make me happy. "That's why I've done Celebrity Come Dine With Me, Celebrity Four Weddings - which I won - and Celebrity Big Brother, which I knew I'd only be in for 15 days. "But, unfortunately, you have to do this garbage." The actress pleaded with viewers not to keep her in the programme, which was a ratings hit when it premiered at the weekend, after her upcoming appearance. "Don't keep me in Splash! I still get the same money if I do one heat or three heats, so don't vote for Tina Malone. Thank you!" she said.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.