Actor's dirty smalls a big worry

Robson Green shows off on Twitter a kahawai he caught in New Zealand. Photo / Twitter

British television star Robson Green feared for his heart-throb image after wearing the same underpants for almost a week in New Zealand when his luggage went missing.

The Wire in the Blood actor arrived in Christchurch from London's Heathrow on a Qantas flight on January 7 to film his hit angling show Extreme Fishing.

But his three suitcases - containing clothes, fishing and diving equipment - didn't turn up for another five days.

"It's a long time since I've worn the same underwear for that length of time and it wasn't a pretty sight," Green, 47, joked. "I was trying to keep well away from any fans in case they noticed.

"I kept thinking my luggage would turn up at any minute but it didn't. Perhaps I should change the name of the New Zealand episode of my new series to Extreme Underpants."

Green said that hours before his cases finally arrived on Wednesday he went on a shopping spree for replacements.

"It turned out that the stuff had been in London all along. I think customs were a bit confused about all the fishing gear in the bags."

Green - who first shot to fame in Soldier Soldier - has been a regular visitor to New Zealand in recent years to fish. His 10-day trip was his first to the South Island where he landed eel, blue cod and kahawai in Kaikoura, Blenheim and Nelson.

"I've been blown away by the awesome scenery in the South Island but it was very sad to see the damage in Christchurch left by the earthquakes," he said. "It was a real eye-opener. I was shocked."

Green next heads for Tasmania, then South Australia to shoot more of the series. The episode covering Green's trip here is expected to screen in New Zealand next year.