I’m A Celeb sign up football legend David Ginola as latest star to join this year’s series
FRENCH football legend David Ginola is the star signing on this year’s I’m A Celebrity, The Sun can reveal.
The former Newcastle United ace has gone into quarantine ahead of entering Gwrych Castle when the show returns later this month.
It comes five years after David, 54, nearly died after suffering cardiac arrest during a charity football match and was saved by emergency heart surgery.
A TV insider said: “Signing up David is a real coup for the show, and he’s by far the biggest name going into the castle.
“He’s also an unexpected addition, as all the speculation tends to revolve around what British celebrities are likely to be on the show.
“But producers always tend to select a veteran sports star for the line up every year, especially one with a high profile like David unquestionably has.”
David was seen moving into a cottage in Anglesey, close to where I’m A Celebrity is filmed in Abergele, to isolate as part of protocols put in place by ITV to make the show as safe as possible.
The property, which includes a hot tub with stunning views over the surrounding countryside, was where Vernon Kay, 47, quarantined before he went into the castle.
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Though he’s French born and bred, David became one of the biggest stars of British football when he signed for Newcastle United in 1995 by coach Kevin Keegan.
He was then poached two years later by Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Aston Villa in 2000 and Everton in 2002 before retiring the same year.
David went on to dabble in professional acting, wine making, endorsements and the French version of Strictly Come Dancing.
He married fashion model Coraline in 1991 and had two children, then after their marriage ended had a third with another model Maeva Denat.
Five years ago he suffered cardiac arrest as a result of coronary lesions and fell into a coma in a charity football match in south-east France.
He was only saved by being revived using a defibrillator five times before an emergency quadruple bypass was carried out after he was airlifted to hospital.
Signing David for the show will be a huge thrill for hosts Ant and Dec who are lifelong Newcastle united fans.
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