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Privacy Notice There’s a lot going on in Coleen Rooney’s world right now. Fresh from a second win in court against arch nemesis Rebekah Vardy – football manager Wayne Rooney’s wife is thought to have signed up for this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here – rumoured to have secured the biggest deal in the show’s history, with a whopping fee of over £1.5m. The wife of former Manchester United striker Wayne, who won the high-profile ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel case in 2022, filed against her by Rebekah Vardy, follows in the footsteps of Rebekah, who entered the I’m A Celeb jungle in 2017 – and was the third campmate to be eliminated. It comes days after Coleen and Rebekah’s courtroom drama was back in the limelight again, when the latter was ordered to pay Coleen a further £100,000 following their legal battle.
A source has claimed that Wayne is worried what his wife may spill around the I’m A Celeb campfire
(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Liverpudlian native Coleen is seen regularly – be it outside of court, on holiday with the family, or with her boys in the stands over the years, supporting her famous husband. But chatting around the campfire, having revealing heart to hearts on national TV, could create some real bombshell moments and a side to the 38 year old mum of four that we’ve never seen until now. It’s an interesting move as, according to a source, ITV bosses have been ‘desperate’ to bag Coleen for the show, which is filmed Down Under, for a long time – and she’s always turned it down. “They’ve wanted her in the jungle for over 20 years, but she’s never really been interested,” they said. “When she was young she wasn’t confident enough to do something like that. Then, after she had kids, she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving them – and Wayne.” So, what made her take the leap this time? Our source claims that over the years, Coleen – who shares sons Kai, 13, Klay, 10, Kit, seven, and Cass, five, with Wayne – has ‘grown’ a lot – is now a well-known name in her own right, and feels like now is the right time to do ‘something just for her’. Certainly, despite the high-profile Wagatha Christie case propelling her – like it or not, into the spotlight, you could argue that Coleen has largely been seen as ‘Wayne’s wife’ over the years, particularly in the role of the faithful partner who has ‘stood by her man’, following more than one cheating scandal hitting the headlines.
Now that the kids are older, this could be Coleen’s time to shine
(Image: Getty Images for Disney+)
Wayne has had several very public alleged infidelities during the couple’s 15 years of marriage. In 2010, it was reported that he cheated on Coleen eight years prior with two sex workers, while she was pregnant with their first child. In 2017, he was arrested and charged with drink-driving after being pulled over by police following a night out in Wilmslow – when he was driving the VW Beetle of a woman in her twenties, who he’d been partying with. And in 2019, Wayne was pictured in a Vancouver hotel lobby following an unknown woman into a lift in the early hours of the morning. “She’s been through so much with Wayne, as well as the WAG war with Becky, that she just wants to have some fun and challenge herself and not have the everyday responsibility of being a mum and wife,” adds the source. “And she is now a big star in her own right. She doesn’t need Wayne and she’s excited about all the opportunities that may come her way. Obviously, she will miss the boys so much but she has a very supportive family and they would love seeing her on IAC – it’s a show they all watch together.” PR expert Lynn Carratt of Pressbox PR agrees that now is a great time for Coleen to enter the jungle – and believes it has little to do with the hefty pay packet. “I really don’t believe in Coleen’s case it is about the money – she and Wayne are likely to already have enough to last them the rest of their lives”, she says. ”The jungle won’t be a disaster for her. In fact, it could be the best thing that’s ever happened to her. It’s her time to shine..”
It’s thought one of Coleen’s main motivations for doing the show is for her kids – who love watching it
(Image: Getty Images)
She continued: “After being propelled to fame while still a schoolgirl, she built herself a successful media career away from Wayne’s football career, while also having to endure cheating headlines surrounding her husband.” Becoming a mum, adds Lynn, meant turning down various career opportunities – even upping sticks from her beloved Liverpool to live in Washington, while Wayne played for DC United. “His career always came first. Now her boys are older and Wayne is working in the UK, it’s her time. And there is no better show to do it on than I’m A Celebrity – it really shows how likeable and tenacious a person can be – and Coleen has always come across as loyal, and likeable. “Plus, she’ll be doing it for her kids who reportedly love the show, she’ll want to make them proud. Never mind the brand deals that will undoubtedly follow. She could make in excess of £5m if she comes across well in the jungle. But she needs to tuck in on those Bushtucker trials and win over the public. “Let’s not forget, she’ll also be well aware that Rebekah Vardy previously competed on the show in 2017 and was the fourth star to be evicted after 16 days, so I’m sure Coleen will be aiming to top that.”
Coleen will be ‘aiming to top’ Rebekah Vardy’s 17-day run in the jungle, says pr expert Lynn Carratt
(Image: PA)
Coleen’s star power has already been cemented, with viewers glued to the Rooney documentary and Coleen: The Wagatha Story and, as Lynn says,. “We know Coleen isn’t averse to spilling the tea. Let’s hope there is plenty more to spill.” As for Wayne, our source maintains he ‘wasn’t too sure’ about Coleen’s big TV move at first – though he’s aware he can’t really ‘control’ what his wife does. “If she does the show and wins, it’ll be Coleen who is the family’s big star now, not Wayne. A few years ago, their marriage might not have survived this – but they are stronger now.” You could understand, however, if the Argyll manager had his doubts about Coleen wearing her heart on her sleeve in front of a TV audience of millions – given the rocky times they have endured together, for a start. Indeed, the source adds: “Wayne is a little worried about what she will say about their marriage, and whether all his past misbehaviour gets brought up. Coleen is very open and honest – if she bonds with someone in there, she will talk about everything she’s been through, including stuff with Wayne and Becky.” One thing is for sure, Coleen Rooney in the jungle is going to make for some epic television, even if it could prove uncomfortable viewing for some.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnRebekah VardyWayne RooneyColeen RooneyIm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of HereWagatha Christie
