EXCLUSIVE: I’m A Celebrity star Wayne Rooney talks to the Mirror about how overhauling his lifestyle has transformed his physical and mental health – and helped bring him and his Coleen closer together
Wayne Rooney has revealed his marriage to his wife, Coleen, is in a “much better place” after he gave up alcohol and shed more than three stone.
The former England captain, 41, said quitting booze almost six months ago has transformed his physical and mental health – and helped bring him and his wife closer together.
Speaking ahead of his appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Wayne said he had completely overhauled his lifestyle. And he revealed that Coleen, 40, has noticed the difference, not just in his appearance and overall happiness but in their relationship too.
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Asked whether his wife enjoyed his new slender figure, Wayne 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.”
The former Manchester United striker said giving up alcohol had made a difference to virtually every aspect of his life. Asked what sort of impact it had, Wayne said: “It has on everything…just in day-to-day living.”
Wayne, who has spoken openly in the past about his struggles with alcohol, also said how not drinking had helped with his dramatic weight loss. He said: “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.
“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.” The couple, who met as teenagers in Liverpool, have four sons – Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass – and have now been married for more than 18 years.
The former football ace admitted that the prospect of living on basic rations and tackling gruelling Bushtucker Trials in the jungle had encouraged him to take his fitness seriously.
He 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.”
Asked exactly how much he had lost, he replied: “Probably over 20 kilograms” before clarifying “That’s over the space of years, though. That’s not just for the last six months.”
Fans have gone wild over the last few months about Wayne’s “glow-up”. Asked whether Coleen had given him any skincare or beauty advice, he credited his healthier lifestyle rather than any new products.
He said: “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.” Despite his newfound confidence, Wayne admitted he has one fear that could prove particularly difficult to overcome in the jungle – heights.
In fact, he revealed he has booked to jump out of a helicopter three times in the past, but never managed to go through with it. He said: “I’ve never had the courage to do it. So if that’s part of what I’m doing, then that would be the biggest challenge for me, I think.”
Asked whether he had actually made it into a helicopter on any of those occasions, he admitted: “I’ve never actually made it up on them…when I was younger, I was okay with heights, but the older I’ve got, the worse I’ve got, to be honest.”
But Wayne insisted he would still be prepared to tackle whatever the show’s producers threw at him. He added: “You don’t know what you can handle until you’re in there.” And the former Man United ace was forced to confront his fears when he was spotted skydiving, along with Ade Adepitam, for the first episode.
Wayne admitted the prospect of being separated from Coleen and their children without any contact would be one of the toughest parts of his jungle experience.
He said: “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.
“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, who finished runner-up to Danny Jones in the 2024 series, has been offering her husband advice about what to expect. But Wayne insisted she was determined to let him have his own experience rather than dictate how he should behave.
Asked if she had given him any tips, he said: “Just to be myself, to be honest. I think I’ve known quite a few people who’ve been in there, as well as Coleen, and I think you have to experience it for yourself. And that’s what Coleen said. There’s obviously things where she spoke about her time in there, but it’s important I have my time in there too.”
And when asked what her final words had been before he boarded the plane to Australia, Wayne joked: “She just told me to put my seatbelt on.” He added: “Honestly, her advice was just enjoy the experience because it is quite unique, and a unique experience to have. So that’s what I’m going to intend to do.” He also expects her to exact her revenge after he famously pleaded with his millions of followers to download the ITV app to vote for her to do trials.
Asked if she will return the favour, he laughed: “Yes, I am sure she will.” But he says in any case he was keen to tackle the trials despite the nerves. He added: “That’s part of the experience of going in there.”
Wayne also revealed that his four sons have very different views about their dad appearing on the ITV show, which starts on Monday. He laughed: “My two younger ones are excited, but my two elder ones just don’t want me to embarrass them, so that’s a challenge for me to do that.” They might be on red alert, however, as Wayne says he would be keen to take part in camp karaoke. “Yes, I’ll definitely get involved,” he says.
Wayne said he had been impressed by Coleen’s performance two years ago and would love to go one better by winning the show. But he insisted there was no serious rivalry between them.
He said: “Obviously, I was very proud of Coleen and her time in the jungle. I thought she’d been brilliant. And then obviously it’s a different set of people in there, so the outcome could be completely different. And if I was to win it, then great. If not, I’ve always wanted to do the show, and it’s something which I’m delighted to be able to do. As I said, there’s no competition, but I would like to do a little bit better than her. So we’ll see.”
Wayne also believes the experience will give viewers an opportunity to see a different side to him. He said: “You don’t know how you’re going to be portrayed or how people are going to think about you in there. When you’re in there for that amount of time, cameras on you 24/7, only a true persona of yourself will show. So I think it’s a good opportunity for people to see me in that light.”
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