Ant and Dec will return to host the jungle show in November (Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeIt’s only a few weeks before celebrities will be jetting out to the jungle to film the new series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here and speculation is already rife about who could be heading to Australia to enjoy the reality show experience alongside presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. Top of the show’s wish list is Scottish football legend Ally McCoist, who has twice turned down the show in the past. Ally, 62, who played for Rangers and was also a regular TV sports pundit on programmes including A Question of Sport and Prime Video’s coverage of English Premier League games, has reportedly been approached by ITV once more to see if he will do the tough reality series this year. He was previously asked in 2019 but pulled out during negotiations, and was also offered a trip to the jungle in 2022, but he said at the time he turned the show down because: “I’m not a fan of cockroaches.”
Scottish footballer Ally McCoist may be heading to the jungle this November
(Image: Getty Images)
He added: “The bit where you jump out of the helicopter or plane at the start – I’d like to do that. But then the rest is downhill. You don’t really know until you’re there, but I actually think being in the coffin with the rats and snakes – from where I’m sitting right now – I don’t think that would bother me that much.” However, when Ally was interviewed on TalkSport on Wednesday 9 October, he didn’t confirm or deny rumours that he was signing up to the show. Host Alan Brazil asked if Ally would do the series if he was offered a £1 million fee and hypothetically his wife Vivien urged him to accept. He replied: “You know the drill lads – I’ll do what I’m told! To be fair, I could do with losing a stone and a half.” Co-host Gabby Agbonlahor prodded Ally further, asking: “The jungle – yes or no?” and Ally simply replied: “I don’t know.” Sign up to OK!’s TV newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Footballer Jill Scott won the series in 2022
(Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
A source has told The Mirror that Ally would be a prime pick for the series. “Ally has such a huge fan base thanks to his years of commentating and punditry, plus his long stint on A Question of Sport. He’d be great for the jungle – as his wife and kids have been telling him forever – so everyone is really hopeful that this will be the year.” OK! has approached ITV for comment. Sports stars are popular on I’m a Celebrity, with football manager Harry Redknapp winning the show in 2018, cricketer Phil Tufnell winning in 2002 and footballer Jill Scott being crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2022. Footballer John Fashnau, motorcycle racer Carl Fogarty, snooker ace Jimmy White, javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread and tennis legend Martina Navratilova and former boxer Tony Bellew are among a long list of sports stars who have also made the trip out to the jungle.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnDeclan DonnellyHarry RedknappAnt McPartlinI’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
