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Coleen Rooney shares surprise over ‘massive’ I’m a Celebrity impact

Rooney came second on the latest run of the ITV competition

Katie Inglis
Thursday 09 January 2025 11:20 GMT
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Coleen Rooney has opened up about the “massive impact” that I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has already had on her life, saying she is surprised that people have taken “that much interest in me”.

Rooney, 38, came in second place on the ITV reality show final on 8 December, losing out on the jungle crown to McFly singer, Danny Jones.

The TV personality and wife of former footballer Wayne Rooney entered the jungle as a well known name, but left having won the heart of the nation.

Rooney told the Stick to Football podcast: “The impact from I’m a Celeb has been massive. I knew it was a big show, but I didn’t think people would take that much interest in me.”

“I’ve done stuff in the past but the amount of people that have not got me and my personality,” she continued. “They’ve just taken bits and bobs and not seen me as a person.”

Speaking about the effect the renewed attention has had on her, she said: “People forget that we are just normal people. I started being in the public eye when I was 16 – it’s been a long time. It’s been so nice and positive [the reaction from the show].”

Rooney in tears at letter from husband Wayne
Rooney in tears at letter from husband Wayne (ITV)

Despite her success in the I’m a Celeb jungle, Rooney said “it’s an experience that I’ll never do again”.

“I’m glad that I did do it,” she continued. “I’ve met people [in the jungle] that I’ll keep in contact with – the group chat is going off all the time.”

Praised for her calm demeanour in the Australian jungle, Rooney proved herself ready to take on any challenge, which subsequently secured her the runner-up position.

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“Whatever I do in life, I like to put my all into it and so if I am going in there, it would be nice to stay until the end,” she had told reporters ahead of coming in second place.

Key moments from her time in the show included Rooney opening up about the numerous miscarriages she has experienced, and details of her marriage to Wayne.

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