Coleen Rooney reveals reason she almost quit I’m A Celeb – as she takes swipe at campmate
COLEEN Rooney has lifted the lid on her I’m A Celebrity stint and revealed why she almost walked out.
Coleen, 38, made it to the final of the most recent series of the ITV show – but she very nearly quit.
While opening up about her time Down Under in a new podcast, the mum-of-four also took a swipe at one of her campmates.
Taking aim at GK Barry, Coleen said: “Grace. She was funny. I’d never heard of her before. I didn’t know who she was.
“When she came in, I felt like she was trying to be funny. But she didn’t need to, because she was just naturally funny.”
Coleen, who is married to England football legend Wayne Rooney, spoke about her jungle experience on the Stick To Football podcast.
The star chatted to football stars Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, along with former I’m A Celeb alumni Ian Wright and Jill Scott.
Coleen told the foursome that the ITV show is the only one she had ever considered signing up to because “I’ve watched it for years and loved it”.
However, once in the jungle, Coleen said she almost quit due to all the ‘sex chat and swearing’ among the other campmates.
“I’m glad I did it,” Coleen admitted. “But a few days in, I thought, ‘What am I doing here? I thought, ‘I could walk’.
“I was sitting there and I had all these big characters singing and dancing around me and I was thinking, ‘What am I going to bring to this jungle? I’m just me’.
“My dad told me not to swear when I went in there, but they were all talking about sex and everything. I was thinking, ‘I can’t do this. I need to go and walk away’.
“You know where you think, ‘This is not me’.”
Thankfully, Coleen stuck with it and decided to stay put after getting to know all her campmates individually.
The WAG even ended up making it to the final, losing out at the last hurdle to winner and McFly star, Danny Jones.
Coleen said the campmates she bonded best with were Coronation Street star Alan Halsall and boxing legend Barry McGuigan.
She has also ruled out ever returning to the jungle for another go or an All Stars series, saying: “I won’t do it again.”
I'm A Celebrity - All The Winners
Here's every star who has been crowned King or Queen of the Jungle to date:
- 2024: Danny Jones, McFly star
- 2023: Sam Thompson, Made in Chelsea star
- 2022: Jill Scott, England footballer
- 2021: Danny Miller, Emmerdale star
- 2020: Giovanna Fletcher, actress and podcaster
- 2019: Jacqueline Jossa, EastEnders star
- 2018: Harry Redknapp, England legend
- 2017: Georgia Toffolo, Made In Chelsea star
- 2016: Scarlett Moffatt, Gogglebox star
- 2015: Vicky Pattison, Geordie Shore star
- 2014: Carl Fogarty, famed racer
- 2013: Kian Egan, Westlife star
- 2012: Charlie Brooks, EastEnders actor
- 2011: Dougie Poynter, McFly star
- 2010: Stacey Solomon, X Factor star now TV personality
- 2009: Gino D’ACampo, TV Chef
- 2008: Joe Swash, TV personality
- 2007: Christopher Biggins, actor
- 2006: Matt Willis, Busted star
- 2005: Carol Thatcher, author and broadcaster
- 2004 (second series): Joe Pasquale, comedian
- 2004: Kerry Katona, Atomic Kitten star and reality star
- 2003: Phil Tufnell, England Cricketer
- 2002: Tony Blackburn, Radio DJ
There was also an All Star series in South Africa in 2023, which was won by Myleene Klass.
Since arriving home, Coleen has thrown herself back into family life with hers and Wayne’s four sons.
And despite enjoying her jungle stint, the star says she wouldn’t persuade her hubby to give I’m A Celebrity a go – as she thinks he wouldn’t bother doing the Bushtucker trials.
“I don’t I’d encourage Wayne to go in,” Coleen admitted. “I’m quite strong. I’m not fazed by much.
“If I’ve got something to do, I get on and do it. If you’re not going to stick, there’s no point going in.”