I'm A Celebrity legend's surprise pick for 2024 winner and why viewers will warm to them
James Haskell has shared his thoughts on the new series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and has predicted the big star of the show - and it's not Coleen Rooney
Former rugby player James Haskell, 39, is sharing his advice for celebrity campers once again ahead of the launch of the 2024 series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
James did a stint in the jungle back in 2019, lasting 18 days before becoming the fourth star to be voted off the ITV show. The dad-of-one, who split from Chloe Madeley last year, shared his pearls of wisdom with his old rugby pal Mike Tindall in 2022 when Zara Phillips' husband became the first royal to ever appear on the reality TV show.
This time around James is looking forward to watching the show as a fan and is interested to see how the new batch of celebrity campers get on. Coleen Rooney, Dancing On Ice judge and former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse, N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos and McFly star Danny Jones are just some of the big names battling it out to become this year's new King or Queen of the Jungle.
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But while James is keen to see what Coleen is really like in her debut reality TV performance, it's boxer Barry McGuigan who he believes will be the big hit with viewers. "It’s going to be an interesting one. I like Barry McGuigan, I know him and he’s a really interesting character," he explained. He’s obviously a fantastic boxer but he’s a really salt of the earth kind of guy. He has the discipline to win it but he’s also really fun and I can’t wait to see him.
Speaking to Spin Genie, James went on to add: "You’ve got someone like Coleen Rooney and she’s going to be very interesting as she’s been in the public eye for so long, but we don’t really know her. People have guessed what she's like, and I think a lot of these times people might know the name, but they don't see the person.
"Now they’re going to see a daily dose of her, albeit edited. Oti Mabuse, I went on her TV show and she was really lovely and really down to earth. I'm really interested to see how she does. I just think it will be really interesting with all those characters and see who keeps their cool."
Coleen will land on a beach alongside other famous faces in this year’s launch episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! The ITV reality TV show, infamous for its eating contests and terrifying trials, will see Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall, BBC Radio 1 star Melvin Odoom, internet personality and Loose Women host GK Barry and former Irish boxer Barry McGuigan meet this evening in the first episode of the 2024 series.
The celebrities will pair up and face challenges in a bid to become the leaders of the camp, with Rooney and BBC Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough choosing to compete together. The top dogs will get certain privileges including being exempt from chores and sleeping in the leaders’ lodge.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! returns on Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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