Wayne Rooney has revealed that giving up alcohol for almost six months has helped him lose a significant amount of weight, improve his mental health, and put his marriage to Coleen Rooney in a "much better place" ahead of his appearance on ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.
Marriage in a "much happier place"
The 41-year-old former England footballer opened up about how changing his habits has affected both his health and his relationship with Coleen, who he has been with since their teenage years. When asked if Coleen was pleased with his slimmer appearance, he said: "She's obviously happy because I think, from a point of view of our marriage, it's in a better place, in a much happier place. And so that obviously makes a difference."
"So I think, yes, she's obviously said I look a lot better, but also from a mental point of view, I'm in such a better place as well."
Health benefits of giving up alcohol
Rooney explained that giving up alcohol had made a noticeable difference to his everyday routine, affecting far more than just his appearance. When asked about the impact of not drinking, he said: "It has on everything…just in day to day living."
The former Manchester United forward has also been eating better and getting back into regular exercise, which has contributed to his weight loss. "Having stopped drinking for almost six months now it does help in terms of your food. I've just been eating, to be honest, probably as healthy as I've ever eaten over that period, and then training, getting back into a routine of training," he said.
"So obviously it all ties in and all helps. And then I had weight to lose as well. So I think I'm just in a really good place, a really happy place."
Weight loss and jungle preparation
When asked exactly how much he had shed, Rooney replied: "Probably over 20 kilograms", before clarifying that the weight loss had happened over several years rather than entirely during the last six months. He added: "That's over the space of years, though. That's not just for the last six months."
His new look has caught the attention of fans, but Rooney said it was down to his healthier habits rather than any beauty secrets. "I think just losing weight obviously helps with your skin, and not drinking helps from a health point of view as well. So I think it all ties into it," he stated.
The lifestyle changes come as Rooney prepares to take on the Australian jungle for I'm A Celebrity, where he will face a different kind of challenge without his usual comforts. He admitted that getting into better shape was partly motivated by knowing he would be living on basic rations and taking part in gruelling Bushtucker Trials.
Rooney said: "I think I got to a stage where I probably needed to, regardless anyway. But knowing that I was going into the jungle was a big part of it, and also I was preparing well for this in terms of cutting down on food and making sure I'm in the best possible place to handle what's thrown at me in here."
Missing family during the show
While Rooney is looking forward to the experience, he admitted being away from Coleen and their four sons - Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass - without any contact will be difficult. "Of course you miss them. Because obviously I've lived away from them before, but having no contact – you've always been able to contact them - and even this week having no contact with them is quite strange. So yeah, I think that will be tough," he explained.
Rooney added: "But I know what that is. I have to get through that, and it's not too long in terms of your lifespan to spend away. But emotionally, you don't know how that will affect you once you're in there."
Coleen finished runner-up on the show in 2024, and Rooney said she had encouraged him to enjoy the experience and make it his own. He also joked that she could get her own back after he previously urged his millions of followers to vote for her to take part in trials. Asked if he thought she would return the favour, he laughed: "Yes, I am sure she will."
