ARSENAL legend Ian Wright fears fans of arch rivals Tottenham will force him to suffer the worst Bushtucker trials after he goes into the jungle on Sunday.
The former striker and now popular Match Of The Day pundit, 56, reckons years of goals against The Gunners’ North London neighbours will come back to haunt him.
As we bring you the first look at this year’s I’m A Celeb line-up in their jungle gear, Ian said: “The football fraternity will be watching. Not only do some want to see me do well, but the ones who may not be so keen on me will want to see me go through stuff that they would never dream of.
“And it’s the Spurs fans’ opportunity to get me back. I’ve caused them so much heartache.”
Wrighty, hot favourite to win the show, says he was convinced to take part by close pal Harry Redknapp — last year’s King of the Jungle. Ian, nicknamed Wrighty, said: “When I was approached this year I thought about it for ages. The last series was one of the best I have seen in respect of camaraderie.
“Harry and I play golf together and we spoke about it. He had a really great time, it was a fantastic thing for him to do and he is still talking about it.”
The ex-England ace is being paid around £400,000 for his appearance Down Under, but he is not doing it to boost his profile. He said: “I am in a position where everything is going really well. I don’t need people to like me. Whenever I come out, I am working again.
“The prestige of becoming King of the Jungle is great kudos. You have seen how popular Harry has become but you can’t go in trying to win. People watch the show and they see different qualities in everyone that they like or may not like . . . ”
To triumph this year he will have to see off competition from the likes of US reality TV’s Caitlyn Jenner, 70, rugby union ace James Haskell, 34, and Jacqueline Jossa, 27, best known as Lauren Branning on EastEnders.
Mum-of-two Jacqueline said: “It’s going to be so difficult going in as me, I have never done a show where I’ve been myself.”
She is married to ex-Towie regular Dan Osborne, 28, but their relationship has been beset by rumours of his infidelity.
They were said to have split after he was accused of hooking up with Love Island’s Alexandra Cane this year.
Jacqueline says she wants to go into the jungle to dispel some of the public’s misconceptions about her. She added: “I think people believe I am a pushover. I also think some people pity me.
“I want to show I am fine, I’m up for a laugh and that I will go for it and try my best.”
While in the jungle she will be leaving behind children Ella, four, and Mia, one, and she added: “This is the longest I have ever been away from them and that is going to be really hard.”
Another glamorous female doing battle for the jungle crown is Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle.
But the 34-year-old will have her work cut out in the Bushtucker Trials, where celebs must win stars for the camp in return for food.
Since becoming a mum to her daughter, Anaiya, five, she has lost her gutsy attitude. She said: “I really want to try something new. I am scared of so many things. I used to be brave. Now I have got so fearful even being in the car, flying or general things. It’s since I became a parent.
“I hope this pushes me out of the comfort zone, so that I learn to be comfortable, feel relaxed and do the things that I didn’t used to be afraid of.”
Andrew Whyment, 38, Kirk on Coronation Street, will become the 11th actor from the soap to head into the jungle when he is introduced later in the series.
Who will win I’m A Celebrity 2019? Latest on odds on who will be crowned King or Queen of the jungle
Here's who is being already being tipped to win the show.
- Roman Kemp: 5/1. The Capital Radio DJ, 26, says: “Some of the fears I have are odd. I have a strange fear of cotton wool. Why am I scared? It’s the texture and sound of it.”
- Andrew Maxwell: 8/1. The comic, 45, says: “My littlest is two, so I am still in the world of wiping away poo. I have a reputation as someone who is willing to clean out the toilet.”
- Nadine Coyle: 10/1. The Girls Aloud singer, 34, says: “I’ve never boiled water on a fire, chopped firewood, slept outside. I hope I learn stuff about me and it’s the next phase.”
- Ian Wright: 5/2. The footie pundit, 56, says: “I am not going in to be an entertainer or cook. But I will help where I can. I think things will happen naturally and you will deal with it.”
- Caitlyn Jenner: 10/1. The US reality star, 70, says: “Dealing with other people is by far the hardest thing. It’s much more difficult than dealing with the world’s most poisonous snakes.”
- Jacqueline Jossa: 16/1. The ex-EastEnder, 27, says: “My old colleagues are going to be shocked. I don’t think they can imagine me in there. I don’t like creatures, it’s not my thing.”
- Myles Stephenson: 10/1. The X Factor winner, 28, says: "I’d love to stay in the band (Rak-Su) but if opportunities come my way after this, you have to take them by the scruff of the neck.”
- Adele Roberts: 16/1. The Radio 1 DJ, 40, says: “I get emotional when I don’t have food. There will be some tears! I hate spiders. If I see one, I freeze and can’t speak.”
- Kate Garraway: 16/1. The Good Morning Britain host, 52, says: “I am going to give it a good shot and everyone can have a laugh. I hope it takes their mind off Brexit.”
- James Haskell: 7/1. The rugby ace, 34, says: “I am very aware you either love me or hate me. I created this persona amusingly for jokes about being a lad. But I’m not like that at all.”
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