How footballers fared on I’m A Celeb from Ian Wright to Harry Redknapp as Wayne Rooney prepares to enter jungle

WAYNE ROONEY is the latest footballer ready to take on the jungle. The England legend, 40, is set to sign up for I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here! How Wayne Rooney could look on I’m A Celeb after he agrees to star on reality TV show Rooney’s wife Coleen famously appeared on I’m A Celeb in 2024 Credit: Unknown He will follow wife Coleen, who was runner-up on the ITV show in 2024. Insiders tell The Sun that Rooney is keen to impress his four sons by taking on the Bushtucker Trials Down Under, and would be the hit show’s biggest-ever signing. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! The all-time Man Utd top scorer is one of a number of footballers who have tried their luck on the reality TV series. SunSport looks at the best of the rest and how they fared – with two notable winners coming from the Beautiful Game. John Fashanu The Wimbledon legend was a renowned hard man on the pitch. In 2003, with a TV audience knowing him well after a stint as a presenter of Gladiators with Ulrika Jonsson, he appeared in the second series of I’m A Celeb… and finished second to Phil Tufnell. Fash already warned viewers before the show that he was afraid of heights, but he was handed the cruellest of Bushtucker Trials. The former striker had to bob his head into a Perspex box of water, picking out stars with his teeth as eels were fired into it from either side. Most read in Sport “That was hell,” he admitted after the challenge. “Whoever thought of that I’d like to meet in a dark alley.” John Fashanu appeared on I’m A Celeb in 2003 Credit: Cameron Laird/Shutterstock Fashanu showed he was game by throwing himself into the various Bushtucker Trials Credit: ITV/REX Neil Ruddock ‘Razor’ Ruddock’s time in the jungle was a miserable one. He was surrounded by a great line-up, including Katie Price, Peter Andre, Kerry Katona, and John Lydon. Despite his larger-than-life personality, Ruddock couldn’t adapt and was third to be voted out. But that wasn’t before he faced a Trial called Fill Your Face alongside Price. The pair had their heads in a fish bowl that was filled with all sorts of creepy crawlies. Neil Ruddock appeared opposite Katie Price in 2004 Credit: ITV/REX Ruddock’s usual joker in the pack personality didn’t shine through in the jungle Credit: ITV/REX It was Ruddock’s crowning glory, as they won enough stars to feed the whole camp. Rodney Marsh Controversial Marsh managed to get himself into a lot of bother in 2007. He had an almighty row with PR Lynne Franks, was accused of sexist jokes, and even flashed his bum. But, he wasn’t sorry. “I acted like a five year old kid sometimes. I don’t apologise. What you see is what you get,” he told Ant and Dec in his post-eviction interview. On Franks he said: “I despise everything she stands for. I think it is fair to say that she irritated me.” Rodney Marsh’s time on I’m A Celeb was controversial Credit: ITV Marsh butted heads with Lynne Franks on the show Credit: ITV Jimmy Bullard It seemed that Marsh’s outburst put the pin in footballers appearing on the show. It was seven years until we saw another one, this time loveable jester Bullard joined the show. His cheeky chappy status on the football pitch didn’t translate to the TV screens, where Bullard was the third celebrity voted off by the viewers. Before he was given the boot, we saw him eat sheep’s testicles and memorably sing naked in the shower with Jake Quickenden. Last year, TV producers brought Bullard back for the South Africa version of the show. However, that ended in tears after he quit a trial and got into a barney with fellow campmate Adam Thomas. Jimmy Bullard’s cheeky chappy persona shone through in 2014 In one challenge, Bullard was forced to eat sheep’s testicles Credit: ITV/REX/Shutterstock Kieron Dyer The former Newcastle United footballer immediately won over viewers when he announced he was donating his I’m A Celeb fee to charity. He was thrust into the deep end with a horrific challenge called Scarier 52 in which he had to trawl through a room filled with rotten meat and flies and find two stars. It all got a bit too much Dyer, who broke down and almost quit the show after everyone turned on Lady Colin Campbell. I’m A Celeb was almost too much for Kieron Dyer and he nearly threatened to walk Credit: ITV But Dyer threw himself into the Trials and finished a respectable fourth Credit: ITV But Chris Eubank talked him into staying, and Dyer finished a respectable fourth in the end. Wayne Bridge The former Chelsea defender signed up to the 16th series of I’m A Celeb in 2016, and didn’t disappoint. Bridge finished fifth after a shock double elimination with Martin Roberts – just two nights before the final. From the offset, he had to confront his fears – skydiving into the jungle from 10,000 feet. He made friends with Gavin & Stacey star Larry Lamb, breaking down in tears when he discussed his family life. Wayne Bridge finished a respectable fifth in 2016 Credit: Shutterstock Bridge confronted several of his fears, including rats Credit: ITV Bridge also tussled with creepy-crawlies, which he hated. He was TV gold, to be fair. Dennis Wise Keeping their reputation as the go-to club for I’m A Celeb contestants, it was Chelsea legend Wise who followed Bridge into the jungle in 2017. And, the former midfielder made it to day 19 before he was booted off the show. However, there was some controversy when viewers thought he was a bully after telling Iain Lee he shouldn’t do a Bushtucker Trial in case he failed because he wasn’t good enough. Good guy Wise made up for after the show, getting Iain tickets for Chelsea for him and his kids, and the pair became friends the moment they stepped out the jungle. Dennis Wise continued the theme of fearless footballers thriving during the Trials Credit: REX/Shutterstock Wise was accused of bullying fellow campmate Iain Lee Credit: REX/Shutterstock Harry Redknapp The ‘King of the Jungle’ in 2018, Redknapp became an instant favourite with the viewers gushing about missing wife Sandra, his love of a jam roly-poly and fearless attitude towards tasks, as well as a cold shower. The West Ham legend even proved that he could stomach anything when he shoved a load of maggots in his mouth and chomped on them. A worthy-winner, Redknapp set the bar for future footballing contestants. Harry Redknapp was football’s first I’m A Celeb winner Credit: ITV/REX Redknapp was fearless when it came to I’m A Celeb’s awful tasks Credit: ITV/REX/Shutterstock Last year he returned in the all-star series in South Africa, finishing in third place. Ian Wright TV pundit and Arsenal icon Wrighty joined a year after Redknapp’s heroic stint and was tipped to be a star. However, his struggles with hunger, as well as the harsh realities of being in camp affected his mental health. Ian Wright struggled with his mental health and hunger in the jungle Credit: ITV/REX Wrighty came face to face with scorpions in 2019 Credit: James Gourley/ITV/REX Couple that with clashes with comedian Andrew Maxwell, we didn’t see the best side of the Gunners legend. He lasted 18 days, was the fifth contestant to be voted out, and told hosts Ant and Dec about his short fuse in his post-eviction interview, “I lose it too quickly… I’ve got a lot to work on.” David Ginola In 2021, the series switched to Gwrych Castle in North Wales due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. And our faith in footballers was restored again when ‘Camp Dad’ Ginola finished fourth on the show. He talked candidly about his near-death experience from a heart attack during a charity football match in 2016 to his fellow campmates. David Ginola earned the reputation as ‘Camp Dad’ during his stint on the show Credit: ITV/Shutterstock Ginola was a hit for his honesty about his near-death experience Credit: PA The former French footballer also charmed viewers and contestant Arlene Phillips by singing Come On Arlene to the tune of the Dexys Midnight Runners’ hit, Come On Eileen. Right before his exit, Ginola also survived the Celebrity Cyclone challenge. Jill Scott In 2022, Jill became the ‘Queen of the Jungle’ and football’s second ever winner. It was so richly deserved, with the former Lionesses proving to be a hit with viewers because of her down-to-earth personality, her leadership, and brilliant sense of humour. She kept her composure when a cockroach got stuck in her ear during one trial, and in her final challenge had to lie down in a glass box with over 70 rats crawling all over her for several minutes, as she won enough stars to feed her campmates. Jill Scott poses with Ant and Dec after she was crowned ‘Queen of the Jungle’ in 2022 Credit: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock Fans loved Jill’s fearless nature and down-to-earth personality Credit: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock Jill went viral for her dance moves when the campmates created a song about hot banana water. While she also drew praise for openly discussing her sexuality and coming out to the football community in a heartfelt conversation with Boy George. Comment now