‘People are afraid’: Malcolm in the Middle star’s TV admission

Malcolm In The Middle star Frankie Muniz has lifted the lid on his experience as a young star growing up in Hollywood in light of the controversial Quiet on Set documentary.

Former child star Frankie Muniz has lifted the lid on his experience growing up as a child star in Hollywood in light of the controversial Quiet on Set documentary.

Muniz is globally famous thanks to playing the titular character in hit US television series, Malcolm in the Middle.

The 38-year-old, who is a contestant on I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!, features in the four-part documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, about the often toxic goings on behind the scenes of American children’s television from the 1990s into the 2000s — especially Dan Schneider’s time as a producer with Nickelodeon.

“I am in that documentary like nine times because I was on a lot of those shows and I somehow did not experience any of that,” he told Confidential. “Maybe I was just lucky in that sense. As soon as Malcolm did end, I left and focused on living the most fulfilled life I can.”

He continued: “I always heard stories. I am happy that people are speaking up.”

“I know even on sets that I’ve been on, there have been things happen that people are afraid to say anything, you don’t want to lose your job, you don’t want to get in trouble, you don’t want to start drama.”

Frankie Muniz for I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! season 10.

Before heading into the South African jungle camp for I’m A Celebrity, Muniz apologised for the fact he wouldn’t know any of his fellow contestants. He blatantly admitted he would have “no idea” who any of his fellow contestants are.

“I don’t know anybody,” Muniz said. “I turn on the radio, I don’t know any bands or any singers. I have officially crossed that barrier that I am so far out of pop culture that I know nobody. I apologise in advance if I don’t know anyone but they don’t need to feel bad because I truly know nobody.”

Actors Erik Per Sullivan, Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, cast members of Malcolm in the Middle. Picture: Supplied

Muniz is one of the celebrity campmates to compete on the 10th annual reality series when it premiered on Channel 10 on Sunday.

The 38-year-old is globally famous thanks to his years playing the titular character on Malcolm in the Middle from 2000 to 2006 – scoring two Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award nomination for the roll. The series still screens around the world today.

His other credits include Hollywood films Agent Cody Banks, Racing Strips and Deuces Wild.

“I’ve been asked for a few season now and it was always something that the schedule didn’t work and the show doesn’t air in the United States so to be honest, I wasn’t quite sure exactly what it was,” the father of one said of signing up for I’m A Celebrity.

“I have always liked to do things that I normally want to say no to. I don’t have an exact answer of why now but I am excited and I am going to give myself into it fully and hope I make it to the end.”

Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, and Erik Per Sullivan as his brother Dewey.

Frankie Muniz ias Malcolm.

Muniz didn’t go on any crazy detox diets or fitness plans to prepare for the South African jungle.

He did just two things: “The only preparation I did was I watched The Lion King and I shaved my head. I don’t want bugs to crawl on my hair, I can’t wash my hair for like 40 days.”

Muniz has visited Australia just once, back in 2002 when he flew by private jet from the US with Destiny’s Child to attend the Logie Awards. Shakira and Elton John also performed that night.

Having turned his back on Hollywood many years ago, he instead chose to live a quieter life away from the spotlight. For many years he and his wife ran an olive oil business in Arizona and he is a NASCAR driver with a dream of race in a Daytona 500.

Into the jungle: Peter Daicos.

Brittany Hockley will also try her luck in the wild.

“I am the oldest rookie in Xfinity history at 38 years old, so I don’t have tons of time like a lot of my competitors,” he said.

“I am racing 17, 18, 19 year olds who have got double their life to get to my age to get to the cup series. So if I am going to do it, I’ve got to put in the time and effort now and try to move up as quick as possible.”

Muniz still acts occasionally — when it fits in to his driving and family schedule — but it isn’t a priority.

“I never really felt like I fully belonged in Hollywood … I’ve never necessarily chased fame or I don’t care about it whereas I feel like some people get sucked in when they are young and when that starts to go away, they start looking for something in different ways, whether it be going down bad paths or whatever.”