Wayne Rooney has said his wife Coleen is proud of his decision to join I'm A Celebrity, while their sons are worried he will embarrass them on the show. The former England captain, 41, is following Coleen, 40, who reached the final of the ITV programme in 2024.
Family reactions to the jungle stint
Asked whether Coleen felt proud of him, Rooney said: "She is obviously. I think because she has done it, she knows what it is, so she knows how difficult it is as well. It will be nice for her to sit down and be invested in it."
The couple's four sons, Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass, have had mixed feelings about the announcement. "The younger two are very excited," Rooney commented. "I think my older two are worried that I will embarrass them. I tend to do that a lot when their friends come round (to our house) and I think they are more worried about me embarrassing them!"
Rooney on fears and expectations
Rooney, who has managed Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City and Plymouth Argyle, joked that he has plenty of free time since he has not been "great as a manager". He said he hopes viewers will see him as a genuine person who likes to have fun.
He admitted to feeling anxious about certain challenges, particularly jumping from a helicopter and encountering snakes. "Jumping out of a helicopter is a big fear. But I hope I do that, because then I will have conquered that fear," he said. "Snakes? I don't like them, if I'm honest, and I think I am ok with spiders, but they are a lot bigger and scarier there. I will try everything if there is an eating trial. It's about embracing everything."
Rooney revealed that Coleen and friends who have taken part in the show before have offered him guidance, though he is keen to experience jungle life in his own way. He said he is most looking forward to meeting his fellow campmates and helping them if they are "up or down".
He also noted he has never been to Australia, having missed a trip with Manchester United due to an injury sustained in Thailand. Rooney said he will miss his family but wants to focus on having fun, and he joked about wanting to win, adding: "Going on I'm A Celebrity is what I've always wanted to do."
