Huge sports star in advanced talks to join I’m A Celeb
JOCKEY Frankie Dettori is saddling up to ride into the jungle for the next series of I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!
Frankie, 52, who is retiring from racing after 35 years, is said to be in advanced talks with the ITV show’s bosses.
A TV insider said: “Frankie is a superstar signing for jungle casting producers as he is a legend in the horse racing world and would be reality TV gold.
“He might be pint-sized, but his personality is larger than life and he has real charm and a sense of humour.
“Frankie would be brilliant in the Bushtucker Trials too as being competitive is second nature to him.
“He’s got a wealth of stories he could tell around the campfire too to keep other campmates entertained.
“Plus, as a jockey, he’s had to keep his weight down his whole life so he can help coach the other starving contestants surviving on rice and beans.”
Italian Frankie, known for his flying dismount after races, takes part in his penultimate event in the Melbourne Cup in Australia on November 7.
I’m a Celebrity is due to begin in the New South Wales jungle a week later.
His final racing commitment is the Hong Kong International on December 10 — after the show ends.
But it would not be dad-of-five Frankie’s first stint on reality TV.
In 2013 he appeared in Celebrity Big Brother alongside Rylan Clark and Neil “Razor” Ruddock.
Other names in the frame for the new series include This Morning host Josie Gibson and former EastEnders actress Danielle Harold.
ITV said: “Any names suggested for I’m a Celebrity are speculation.”