STAR WARS - BAKER NEARLY SHUNNED STAR WARS FOR TV CAREER

STAR WARS star KENNY BAKER turned down the part of lovable robot R2-D2 in the legendary franchise - until casting bosses asked him to name his price.

The pint-sized actor - who shot to international fame playing C-3PO's sidekick in 1977 classic STAR WARS: EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE - was determined to become a TV personality following regular work on legendary British talent show OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS.

However, Baker quickly altered his ambitions when Star Wars film-makers suggested he name his own salary - something he now realises he could have taken more advantage of.

He says, "I was doing a regular cabaret act, TV commercials and bits of films. Star Wars came in and I turned it down because we were doing Opportunity Knocks.

"I thought at the time I'd rather be a TV personality than inside a robot. But they came back to me and said you can name your price - I missed out there.

"I asked for GBP800 a week, which is what I was getting doing cabaret. If I'd asked for a percentage of the film's takings I'd be a multi-millionaire now."