Keith talks about The Door

23rd March 2010

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2010/0323/duffyk.html

Boyzone singer and 'Coronation Street' star Keith Duffy is taking time out of his busy schedule to participate in a new two-part show for ITV called 'The Door'.

Six celebrities take on the challenge of enduring a multitude of tests, all designed to instil in them a mix of emotions, from fear to total confusion, as they discover what lies behind The Door.

Duffy's Coronation Street castmate Jennie McAlpine also takes part as well as actors Dean Gaffney and Louisa Lytton, presenter Michael Underwood and singer Frankie Sandford from The Saturday's.

So what is The Door?

The Door is a difficult show to try and explain as the concept is quite unique. People kind of love seeing celebrities stuck in a box full of rats, for some reason, so there's loads of stuff like that! The set is fantastic and it's very impressive.

Were you scared about taking part?

I'm pretty easygoing and there's nothing I wasn't looking forward to, but the one thing that got me more than anything was claustrophobia and being in the dark. That was the thing that really got my heart racing.

So how was it?

Doing The Door was great fun. Everybody has different limitations as to the extremes they can put their bodies and minds through and, for some of the celebrities, it didn't take an awful lot for them to freak out.

Are you competitive?

I've trained in sports for most of my life so I'm competitive in that respect but it wouldn't break my heart if I didn't win. I gave it my all and enjoyed myself but I'm not competitive to the extreme. I'm just competitive as people generally are. We had to work as a team when we were entering through a new door and the first part of the challenges and then we become individuals and work against each other. It kind of plays with your head a little bit. The Door kind of shows you a really nice side where you're helping people and working together as a team and then shows your not so nice side where you're out for yourself.

Was it a pleasant experience?

Yeah, absolutely, we had a really good time. We really got to know each other quite well. Dean Gaffney I have known for years, so we had fun together. And Jennie, we're in Coronation Street together, so we're good mates. I'd never met the others before but they are all really nice.

How tough was it?

Some of the challenges are very physical but it was great fun doing the show. When viewers see the programme on the television, the way it's lit, the amount of cameras, it is huge.

Will there be lots of tension?

There's plenty of screaming from Dean Gaffney, and lots of retching!

The first part of the two-part special, The Door hosted by Chris Tarrant and Amanda Holden, can be seen on ITV on Friday, 2 April at 9pm.