Chester-born ex-footballer Michael Owen and his son James won £12,000 for charity on the ITV1 show Big Star’s Little Star.

The programme invites celebrities and their children or grandchildren to answer questions about each other in an attempt to win a £15,000 jackpot for a chosen charity – with sometimes embarrassing consequences.

Other contestants were David Dickinson and grandson Finley plus East Enders Samantha Womack and daughter Lili-Rose. But Michael and James triumphed with the £12,000 prize money split between Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and Prostate Cancer UK.

Right from the start Michael found himself red-faced when forced to admit he sometimes calls his eight-year-old son James by the nickname ‘Cockaleeky’, accompanied by a silly dance.

Michael Owen shows presenter Stephen Mulhern the silly dance he does when he addresses his son James by his nickname of 'Cockaleeky' on ITV1's Big Star's Little Star

Michael, who was born at the Countess of Chester Hospital and lives near Mold with wife Louise, joked: “I picked my team carefully. I have got three daughters and a son, so I thought going with my son might not be too embarrassing but already he’s shown me up hasn’t he!”

James also revealed his dad’s worst habit was spending too much time on the toilet. Michael said he used the time to tweet, text and email. “So if anyone gets one around 7.30am!” said the former Liverpool and Manchester United striker.

FOCUSED: Michael Owen and his son James concentrate while taking part in ITV1's Big Star's Little Star. PCH

Michael also told the nation that he was scared of cats – even more than his old Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

And when James was asked what his daddy had made for the first time in his life this year, he said it was ‘make a cup of tea’. Michael explained that he had never drunk a cup of tea or coffee in his life but had made one for his wife on Mother’s Day.

Michael and his family are no strangers to being gameshow contestants as he and wife Louise took part in ITV1's couple’s gameshow Mr & Mrs and was joined by Louise, sisters Lesley and Karen and mum Janette on Celebrity Family Fortunes.