THE CHEEKY reason for Coleen Rooney’s I’m a Celeb sign-up has been revealed – and it’s NOT the money.
WAG Coleen, 38, secured the show’s biggest deal in history after signing the ITV contract on its dotted line last month.
When The Sun on Sunday disclosed the shock news, eyebrows were raised among some of her fans due to Coleen’s £140 million combined fortune with her husband Wayne, 39.
But insiders have now insisted there’s another motivation behind Coleen’s decision – a chance to take a dig at her arch-rival, Rebekah Vardy.
Becky, who appeared on the show in 2017 and was the third to be eliminated, famously clashed with Coleen during the high-profile ‘Wagatha Christie’ saga.
A source told the Daily Mail: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to wind Becky up.
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“Coleen has got a mischievous side to her. While she has been dignified with how she dealt with being dragged through a court by Becky, it is bound to come up and Coleen has always been honest about the situation.”
Coleen’s representatives have been contacted for comment.
The Sun previously told how Coleen also signed up for the jungle because she finally trusts Wayne to behave — after 22 years together.
The couple started dating aged 16 and wed in 2008, but mum-of-four Coleen told pals she only now has confidence that her scandal-hit other half can keep out of trouble.
Coleen, who flies to Australia for the series next week, is sure that former Everton, Manchester United and England ace Wayne has calmed down since becoming head coach at Plymouth Argyle.
A source told us: “He’s grown up.
“He’s definitely changed and Coleen totally trusts him.
“This is one of the reasons she’s agreed to do the jungle.
“She knows she can go off and pursue her own work projects safe in the knowledge Wayne isn’t going to blow up and do something daft again.
“One of the most common factors in the incidents in the past has been that Wayne always seemed to go off the rails when Coleen was away, or when he was overseas and left to his own devices.
“It’s naturally left Coleen a little bit scarred, but those fears and apprehensions no longer apply.
“Everyone around them has noted a total change in his behaviour in the last two or three years.
“They are more loved-up than ever now and she believes he is focused on being a good dad and husband — as well as a coach.”
The Devon-based job means Wayne, who turns 39 on Thursday, spends most of the week away from Coleen and their sons Kai, 14, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and six-year-old Cass at their £20million family home in Cheshire.
The long-distance relationship has been tough but, according to pals, it has underlined to Coleen how the trust has grown.
Seven years ago she almost dumped him after he went off the rails when she jetted off to Majorca.
He was charged with drink-driving after ending up behind the wheel of another’s woman’s car.
Wazza, who scored 53 goals for the Three Lions, also incurred Coleen’s wrath for drunken behaviour and partying after he moved to America to play for D.C. United.
Meanwhile, Becky has told pals she’ll only watch her rival if she has to do a stomach-churning bushtucker trial.
A source said: “The only time she would watch would be if she knew Coleen was going to eat a sheep’s anus.”
Becky also believes Coleen has been wanting to sign up to the show for years after talking about it in a private Instagram post.
But at the time, it was set up to prove Becky had been snooping on her, which was revealed during the pair’s Wagatha High Court battle.
Becky claimed defamation, but it was tossed out in 2022 — leaving her with £3million in legal costs.
Sources added that Becky finds it hilarious her enemy is following in her footsteps.
They continued: “Coleen was banging on during the trial, claiming she was such a private person, and now she’s going on one of the most watched shows on television.”
“She’s just doing what Becky has already done.”
But even if the former England Wag chooses not to personally tune in, her team of lawyers will be on high alert — ready to take action if her archenemy says anything derogatory about her on air.
It was confirmed: “Becky hopes that she does talk about Wagatha Christie, because it will be a major payday for her.”
This year’s line-up also includes Oti Mabuse, Jane Moore, Dean McCullough, Tulisa, Barry McGuigan, Melvin Odoom, Reverend Richard Coles, Alan Halsall, Danny Jones, GK Barry and Maura Higgins.
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