Coleen Rooney would likely "quit on the spot" if Rebekah Vardy is introduced into I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here as a late entry, a source has claimed.
Coleen's anticipated reaction would be a "nightmare" for ITV bosses who have reportedly lured the TV personality onto the show with a whopping £1.5million deal. The mum of four has been confirmed as part of this year's line-up and was pictured arriving at an airport in Australia earlier this week, in advance of the start of the series on Sunday.
She has a chequered history with fellow WAG Rebekah, though, and wild rumours suggest her rival will make a shock arrival later in the series. ITV bosses have insisted they would not do anything to threaten Coleen's appearance, and now a source said they believe the production team may score an own goal should they bring the WAGS together.
The source at the broadcaster said: "ITV is firmly in Coleen's camp. They love her and can't believe their luck that she has agreed to take part, so there is no question of Becky joining in. Coleen would probably quit on the spot, which would be a nightmare for them."
Rebekah, 42, was snapped giggling wth Jamie, 37, at Stansted Airport ahead of their first-class Emirates flight to Dubai on Wednesday. The Leicester City striker has some time off due to the international break so it is believed he and his wife have jetted off to Dubai for some sunshine.
But this trip has added fuel to the speculation, given Dubai is halfway between Britain and Australia. The flagship ITV show doesn't start for several days yet and late entries typically arrive some time after that anyway.
Yet, the ITV source told Daily Mail: "There is a suspicion that those rumours may have begun somewhere close to Becky." The publication also reports how mum-of-six Rebekah, who in 2022 lost a well-publicised libel case against Coleen, dubbed the "Wagatha Christie" trial, thinks "it is hilarious" her rival will be slumming it in the jungle.
Another insider said: "The holiday came along at quite a fortuitous time... She'll watch from a hotel suite that Coleen would be so envious of while she is slumming it on I'm A Celeb - and Rebekah will be showing everyone."