Hearing about Coleen Rooney signing up for the new series of ITV’s I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! (launching tonight) was truly a surprise. It stands out as such a classic “footballer’s wife” move. One former campmate was Rebekah Vardy, the wife of Jamie, a striker for Leicester City, who took part in 2017 and was the very woman Rooney defeated in the infamous 2022 Wagatha Christie libel trial.

Coleen Rooney's I'm a Celebrity Adventure Unfolds

Self-Contained and Reserved

Rooney, the wife of former England and Manchester United player Wayne, is not your typical footballer's wife. She is self-contained and reserved, almost like a working-class queen. As a mother of four, she is the antithesis of the red-carpet "plus one". She barely engaged in the Wag thing, except at big tournaments. Even then, she did it without the designer gusto of others. She would smile serenely in the spectator box, resembling a Premier League Eva Perón.This aspect of her personality shows a different side to the public image often associated with footballers' wives. It highlights her individuality and the fact that she doesn't conform to the stereotypical norms.

The Incentive of the Paycheck

There is of course the significant incentive of the plump paycheque. Rooney is being paid a record fee, reportedly more than £1.5m. This is more than what either former pandemic health secretary Matt Hancock or now-MP and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage received. Farage's signing, in particular, provoked a backlash, with two million fewer viewers tuning in to watch last year's launch show.This shows the financial aspect of Rooney's participation and how it has drawn attention in the context of other high-profile signings. It also highlights the impact of such decisions on viewership and public interest.

From Wagatha to a New Era

In 2019, Rooney's quasi-forensic Wagatha sleuthing, which erupted with her Instagram post accusing Vardy of selling stories about her to the media, propelled her into a whole new cultural orbit. What started as Wagatha Inc has since sparked a book, a play, a 2022 Channel 4 drama (Vardy V Rooney: A Courtroom Drama) starring Michael Sheen, and a 2023 Disney+ docuseries, Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story (now to be shown on on ITVX and ITV2).This shows how a single event can have a lasting impact and lead to various forms of cultural and media creations. It also demonstrates Rooney's ability to shape public perception through such actions.

Dealing with Publicity

It seems strange to think of Rooney in Australia hunkering down with campmates, chewing through witchetty grubs, and emptying the nightmarish camp dunny. After a lifetime of warding off media intrusion, how will she feel about inviting it all in?This highlights the contrast between her past efforts to avoid the media and her current decision to participate in a reality show. It raises questions about her ability to handle the increased publicity and how it will affect her.

Her Brand and Multimillion-Pound Fortune

Since becoming engaged to Wayne at a petrol station in 2003, Rooney has built her own multimillion-pound fortune through branding deals with companies like Asda and Littlewoods. Her "luxury item" for the I’m a Celebrity camp is reported to be collagen sachets from Applied Nutrition, for which she is the brand ambassador.This shows her business acumen and how she has been able to leverage her fame into a successful brand. It also adds another layer to her public image, beyond her association with football.

The Ordinary-Girl Appeal

Rooney's ordinary-girl appeal may be a double-edged sword on I’m a Celebrity. In this specific stratum of fame, it's all about monetising your relatability. But this doesn't seem to be her strength at all. She is a walking mass of scar tissue, mainly from the various media frenzies surrounding her husband's past infidelities.This reveals the complexity of her public image and how her past experiences have shaped her. It also shows the challenges she faces in a reality show environment where relatability is often a key factor.

The Couple Dynamic

For Wayne, now managing Plymouth Argyle, he underwent his own reputational New Man-rehab during the Wagatha trial. He supported his wife, even carrying her tote bag into court as she struggled with an injured foot. Something strong and sweet is emerging from their couple dynamic, which isn't always the case with high-profile football couples.This shows the positive side of their relationship and how they have supported each other through difficult times. It adds a human touch to their public personas.

Reality TV and Personal Exposure

Shows like I’m a Celebrity run on Big Personalities. Despite her eye-watering fee, it is quite possible that she is considered too quiet and stiff (and worse, discreet) and gets booted off early. However, her involvement and the attention it has attracted have amounted to a reality television laundering of the show's increasingly dubious flirtation with controversial politicos.This highlights the challenges she faces in a reality show environment and the potential consequences of her personality. It also shows the impact of her participation on the show itself.