Coleen Rooney suffers major blow ahead of I’m A Celebrity as camp rivals receive surprise boost

COLEEN Rooney is said to have commanded the biggest fee in I am a Celeb history for taking part in the ITV reality show.

Rumoured to be a paycheck of more than a million pounds, it's no surprise that the news of her being exempt from certain trials on medical grounds has not proved popular.

Last week it was revealed that the wife of former England striker Wayne Rooney, had been ruled out of the challenges due her reactive arthritis, which has drawn a raft of criticism.

But now the bookies Ladbrookes have said that the 38-year-old has fallen firmly out of favour.

Rooney was initially earmarked as the jungle favourite to win, but now her odds have been slashed down to 10/1, with the other celebs including Maura Higgins ahead of her in the popularity stakes.

McFly's Danny Jones comes in with odds of 5/2 Corrie star Alan Halsall is looking good with 5/1 and Irish reality star Maura Higgins with odds of 6/1.

And insiders believe now that Maura and Danny are going to be the ones to beat.

Nicole McGeady of Ladbrookes said:  “We thought Coleen would be loved by punters, but that’s not the case as the show nears. Instead punters believe the likes of Danny Jones and Maura Higgins are the ones to beat.”

Billed as one of the biggest ever celebrity signings, Coleen is thought to have netted the highest fees for starring on the show in the history of the programme, more than political leader Nigel Farage's 1.5 million deal last year.

It is thought that ITV chiefs are keen that Coleen will open up about her history making fallout with fellow wag and former I'm A Celeb contestant, Rebekah Vardy.

Some insight into Coleen's motivations for appearing on the show has been shared by PR expert Lynn Carratt, who believes that the wag is keen to focus on her career now that her four children are getting older, having prioritized her husband’s football career.

Indeed Lynn believes that Coleen could pocket around £5 million in brand deals and advertising following her stint in the jungle.

“Coleen could definitely make around £5 million if she does well in fashion and family brands," Lynn said.

"Asda paid her £3 million back in 2010 to front a George campaign and Littlewoods paid her £2 million.

"She’ll likely bring out her own fashion edit with one of the affordable brands, which could earn her a big sum."   

Meanwhile a telly source told the Sun that bosses are hugely excited to have Coleen on the show.  

“I’m A Celeb bosses have pulled off a huge coup ­getting Coleen for the jungle this year and the team are thrilled to have her on board.

"She’s always been a massive fan of the show and loves watching it with her boys.

"ITV are over the moon that the stars have aligned this year and she can fit it in. The series is set to be one of the best yet.

“Coleen has a huge fanbase and she won massive plaudits for her classy handling of the Wagatha Christie case.

"She’s excited to show fans a different side to her and prove she can survive without her creature comforts."

Coleen taking part in the show is also thought to be another insult to her Wagatha Christie rival Rebekah Vardy, who took part in 2017 but was booted out early.

The source added: “The campfire chats are set to be bombshells as there is so much she could lift the lid on, from all the drama of the Wagatha trial to her turbulent marriage to Wayne and his football career.

Family woman Coleen will leave her four sons- Kai, 14, Klay, 11, Kit, right, and Cass six and husband Wayne, to jet out to Australia to star on the award winning show.

Football-turned-manager Wayne now divides his time between the family's 20 million Cheshire home and Devon where he now manages Championship team Plymouth Argyle.

The insider continued: "Now that Wayne is no longer working in the US and the children are older, Coleen is more available to throw herself into work projects.