TV star Baz Ashmawy has admitted he thought he wasn’t the right person to host DIY SOS – because he’s not “manly” enough.
The Rte show is a ratings success, with the previous series seeing more than half a million people tuning in.
But the Emmy-winning star admitted he thought he wasn’t the right man for the job when TV bosses asked him to host the show.
READ MORE: RTE's Baz Ashmawy says he hasn’t seen his kids in weeks as he opens up on moving in with mum Nancy
He said: “I said to the producers of DIY SOS that I wasn’t sure I’m the best person for this job, I’m very soft, I might be too soft for this.
“I was watching Nick Knowles (who presents the UK version of the show) and I thought, he’s much more manly in that traditional sense than I am.”
He said that even his fiancée Tanja “fell off the bed laughing” when he told her he would be presenting the show.
“Tanja fell off the bed when I told her I was doing DIY SOS. She thought it was the funniest thing ever.
“At the start of every episode, I talk to the director and I say, ‘Ok, this is it, I’m not going to cry.’”
Speaking to the Rte Guide, the 46-year-old also opened up about his private life – saying Tanja hates when he presents radio shows because he divulges too much information about their private life.
“I’m very honest too, probably too honest. My missus hates when I’m on the radio because she’s so private and I tell everything. It’s just the way I am, and I find when I’m like that, people react to it.
“If I tell you my truth or something about me and my family, then you feel OK telling me something about you and that’s how we have an honest conversation.”
The 50 Ways To Kill Your Mammy also opened up about missing his mother, Nancy, as she has been living in Spain for the last few months.
“I really miss her. She’s one of those people I rob energy off. If I get overwhelmed with stuff, a quick fix for me is always going to see my mum.
“She’s a very positive person so I always leave her feeling like a new person.”
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter.
