A business owner from Sutton will face his fear of snakes and take part in an I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! inspired fundraiser next month.

Bob Watson will take part in St Raphael's Hospice’s I'm A Director... Get Me Out Of Here! challenge and will come face-to-face with the reptiles he fears most.

All funds raised will go directly to St Raphael's, which provides care and support to those living with life-limiting illness in the boroughs of Merton and Sutton.

Bob, who is the director of RWW Plumbing & Heating, shared that while many of the trials are being kept under wraps, participants have been told insects and snakes are on the cards.

He told Newsquest south London: "Snakes are my biggest fear.

“I can't even look at them on TV.

“When we used to take the kids to the zoo, I couldn’t go near the reptile house.”

However Bob, who often takes on the hospice’s call-outs, said it’s “time to conquer his fears”.

He added: “They're a great hospice.

“Every single penny goes to the hospice.

“For one day everyone is going out of their comfort zones.”

I'm A Director... Get Me Out Of Here! will take place at Old Ruts Rugby Club in Wimbledon on April 22.

The day-long event will see two teams of local business owners from Merton and Sutton compete in bushtucker trials Members of the public are welcome at the rugby ground from 2pm and tickets cost £5.

Participants will endure unexpected challenges on the day.

They’ll be grouped into two teams, Team Blue and Team Red.

Directors may expect creepy-crawly encounters or gruelling eating trials, but all will be revealed when the day comes.

The trials will close with one winner being crowned King or Queen of the Jungle.

Aside from raising money for the hospice, the fun day gives employees the chance to network with local business leaders.

Emma Burns, ​Corporate Fundraiser at St Raphael's, said: “All businesses have struggled during the pandemic with staff engagement and we have naturally struggled with funding as all of our shops had to close and events were cancelled so we thought how can we work together to have fun whilst raising funds for the hospice at the same time.

“Then this idea was formed and we’re really excited about it!”

Earlier this month, St Raphael’s revealed the final campmate to join the challenge would be their joint CEO Nick Stevens.

Nick said: “It’s remarkable work that’s being done here.

“St Raphael’s needs to raise around £4.5 million a year.

“Every pound raised makes a difference to an extraordinary service, which impacts everybody in Merton and Sutton and far beyond.

“I wanted to be able to contribute where I could through “I’m A Director” and meet people who love and support the Hospice.”

The public are able to support by donating via the event’s JustGiving page, raising vital funds for the hospice.

Each donation enables St Raphael’s to continue offering expert palliative and end of life care to our community, completely for free.