VETERAN Scottish actor James Cosmo has admitted he feared appearing in Celebrity Big Brother would harm his career after making it to the final of the reality TV show.

The Braveheart and Games of Thrones star became an unlikely contender to win this year’s show, appearing alongside the usual assortment of recycled odd balls and C-list celebrities. Cosmo became beloved by other housemates in the show, and a firm favourite among viewers, thanks to his calming influence in a show known for outrageous behaviour and brutal arguments.

In the end he came fourth on Friday night behind Kim Woodburn of the TV show How Clean is Your House and runners-up Irish pop twins Jedward. Coleen Nolan, former presenter of TV show Loose Women who was also one of The Nolans, was crowned the winner in the final which drew just over two million viewers.

Cosmo, 69, who is currently on cinema screens in T2 Trainspotting as anti-hero Renton’s father, told the Sunday Herald he had “absolutely” considered how appearing on the Channel 5 show would impact his reputation.

He said he had considered the disparity of going from being a “supposedly serious actor” to “running about in a nightshirt” in the Big Brother house.

But he added: “I thought hang on, I am 69 – when we are talking about [my] career it is not going to last that much longer anyway. So I had to just say 'well, that is the way it is'. I have had a great career and have been so privileged to do lots of stuff and so if it has affected my career, well that’s okay, I’ll go and take the dog for a walk.”

Cosmo joked that being beaten by Jedward – who first found fame as X-Factor contestants – said everything about his “place in the world”.

“I won best actor at the Edinburgh International Film Festival [in 2015] and I have won a couple of other awards and been in great stuff – but then I come second to Jedward,” he said. “It’s a bit of grit in the porridge.”

But he added: “It’s absolutely fine and I realise people vote for the most entertaining characters. I completely understand that – and I know I am certainly not the most entertaining of characters.”

Cosmo said the pay-cheque did play a role in his decision to take part in the show (it is believed he received a six-figure fee), but he was also intrigued by the show and thought it would be an “interesting and instructive exercise”.

He continued: “I thought this was something you never really have the opportunity to do, to isolate yourself in a place where there is 18 people with no outside information, no data coming through, no TV, no phone and no writing materials. You are forced to confront the situation.”

He added: “I learned a great deal and I am still processing the whole thing – I think one of the most obvious things was that while I try not to pre-judge people, I realised I do anyway and so to try not to do that. I found a real connection with some people from a very different background and I really value that.”

But Cosmo said he was initially baffled by two of his fellow housemates, the couple known as Speidi – Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag – who rose to fame after appearing in MTV's American reality show The Hills.

“I didn’t realise they were big stars from The Hills – they are really game players, they are very experienced at this sort of thing and at being very disruptive and aggressive,” he said.

“But it was actually lovely to see them trying to be nasty and it didn’t work as people really liked them. Eventually they gave up. Although I believe they said some rude things about me I know it was part of the game and I am very fond of Spencer and Heidi, they are lovely, lovely people.

“I don’t understand that way of making a living - of going somewhere into a reality show and being the nasty person, putting on the act. Nonetheless when they are out of it they are charming and friendly people.”

Cosmo said he had become really good friends with the winner, Coleen Nolan, and described her victory as a vindication for “real people”.

“I feel very comfortable with Coleen, she is a wonderful lady and so deserved to win that competition,” he said. “It is a vindication that the public – while they like big characters and loud people – at the end of the day they really like real people. She is a very real person and a very lovely one.”