COLEEN Rooney could be ruled out of a string of I’m A Celebrity trials due to health reasons.
The 38-year-old wife of former England striker Wayne has painful reactive arthritis, which affects the joints and is set off by stress.
It means she may be exempt from some challenges in the upcoming series.
A source said: “Execs want to keep her happy and healthy.”
Coleen said the stress of her Wagatha Christie legal case triggered a crippling bout of the condition.
Sources revealed that ITV medics will seek to ease the 38-year-old’s condition if it flares up while in the jungle.
It means the wife of ex-England striker Wayne could follow a host of former campmates who were exempt from some trials for health reasons.
A show source said: “The duty of care on I’m A Celeb is second to none and over the years the cast have been ruled out of challenges for a string of different reasons.
“Some might have seemed trivial to viewers but the health and happiness of the celebs is of execs’ utmost concern. Coleen’s reactive arthritis being triggered by stress means execs want to wrap her in cotton wool and keep her happy and healthy.”
The mother of four was seen out and about in Cheshire yesterday ahead of the new series, which kicks off on November 17.
Our source went on: “The condition is currently under control so at this stage it’s a ‘could be’ ruled out rather than a ‘will be’. But her physical health will be monitored and, if she suffers a flare-up, her ability to perform each trial will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
Reactive arthritis is a little-known condition which targets joints in the body, especially the knees, feet, toes, hips and ankles.
Coleen told how it left her a virtual recluse as she opened up in her Disney+ documentary, The Real Wagatha Christie.
Reactive arthritis stripped me of my character
Coleen
She broke down in tears when husband Wayne, 39, revealed his concerns over the toll the legal battle with Rebekah Vardy was taking on her health.
She recalled: “He just looked at me and said, ‘Coleen, you’re just not you any more, you just look sick’.”
Later, she added: “It caused anxiety and there were lots of tears.
By FELICITY CROSS
I HAVE been gunged with fish guts, dunked into a slime pool and chomped on a witchetty grub Down Under in Ant and Dec’s jungle.
I might not be a famous face, but as a journalist who has covered the show from Australia, I’ve got firsthand experience when it comes to facing my fears on I’m A Celebrity.
That’s why I can vouch for why viewers need to accept that some celebrities must be exempt from specific trials and challenges.
I know it’s annoying when you can’t vote for a certain campmate to face a horrid task – sometimes it’s not even clear what ailment or condition might be stopping them.
And sometimes even I have rolled my eyes when an allergy or dietary restriction prevents them doing the hated eating trials.
But as I quivered on the edge of a gangplank above a pool of slime to play Catch A Falling Star, I can tell you why I was glad ITV’s duty of care is so OTT.
I had to grab stars out of a deluge of slime as it fell on to my head, then when I missed, I plunged into a slurry of fish guts below.
It was terrifying to hear the slime slop down the tube above me and then again as my head went under the dark water below.
Imagine if I’d had an ear condition, or eye infection, or couldn’t swim, or knew I was allergic to fish?
There’s got to be boundaries so celebs feel safe enough to be funny – because at it’s heart I’m A Celeb is an entertainment show.
Celebs we love to hate, suffering? Entertaining?
People in genuine pain? Not so much.
“I have reactive arthritis. I’ve had it previously, but this situation brought it on a lot more.
“It stripped me of my character, and I didn’t want to socialise with people.
“I was completely in my own world. It was not a nice place to be.”
I’m A Celebrity trials include everything from the infamous eating challenges through to skydives, high-wire walks, underwater challenges and other tests of strength.
Some viewers target certain campmates for gruesome trials, such as ex-Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who was consistently voted for in 2022 in apparent revenge for his behaviour during the Covid pandemic.
Last year fellow controversial politician Nigel Farage was ruled out of a number of trials due to injuries from a plane crash in 2010.
In 2017, Coleen’s nemesis Becky herself was exempt from “fish-based” challenges due to an allergy.
A source said: “Becky is not without her own supporters from the Wagatha showdown and many would have fancied casting their votes to see Coleen gunged or wobbling on a high-wire.
“If medics rule Coleen exempt, they won’t be able to.”
Meanwhile, Becky, 42, has mocked her former pal for signing up to I’m A Celeb.
The wife of Leicester ace Jamie said: “The irony of such a ‘private individual’ going on one of the biggest reality shows isn’t lost!”
She was replying to an Instagram follower who said she will not be watching the show.
Rebekah, who unsuccessfully sued Coleen for libel, after being accused of leaking stories, added: “All in the name of any form of positive publicity! Good luck to her!”
In another apparent dig, she also posted a pic of a pigeon, after once comparing Coleen to one “that would s*** in your hair”.
Their bitter feud, which began in 2019, is still rumbling on, with Becky appealing over the costs she has to pay.
Reactive arthritis can cause acute pain and stiffness across the body but also trigger eye inflammations, skin issues, and urinary problems.
It can mostly be treated with antibiotics and painkillers, but in more serious incidents patients are prescribed steroids or anti-rheumatic drugs.
ITV is known for its duty of care in the jungle.
In 2022, Love Island star Olivia Attwood had to leave after less than 24 hours when blood tests showed low iron levels, leaving her “dangerously anaemic”.
ITV declined to comment.
By Lizzie Parry, Head of Health
THINK arthritis and you’ll likely think of a disease that strikes well into old age.
Yet, Coleen Rooney is proof that it’s a condition that can affect anyone, at any age.
The term arthritis is actually an umbrella term for a group of conditions that cause joint inflammation and pain.
There are lots of different types – the main being osteoarthritis, which typically develops in people in their mid-40s, and rheumatoid arthritis, which tends to be diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 60.
Coleen has a condition called reactive arthritis, which is triggered by an infection – sometimes so mild you might not even notice it.
It causes extremely painful, swollen joints and can make you feel very tired.
It tends to affect the knees and ankles and is a form of inflammatory arthritis.
What sets it apart from other inflammatory forms, is the fact that in most cases reactive arthritis lasts for a relatively short period of time, usually around three months to a year.
That said, for some patients, the condition can last longer and people may suffer flare-ups years after their first diagnosis.
There are many different infections and bugs that can trigger reactive arthritis, ranging from tummy upsets to strep throat, slapped cheek syndrome, glandular fever, some STIs, a bout of diarrhoea and other gut infections.
Along with painful joints, the condition can cause your fingers and toes to swell, puffy, sore and red eyes that look similar to conjunctivitis, and extreme tiredness.
It can also cause problems like rashes on your hands and feet, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers, pain when you pee, weight loss and a fever.
In terms of treating reactive arthritis, there are three different approaches.
Your doctor will look at treating the initial infection, the inflammation – often with painkillers – and the arthritis itself – using steroid injections, tablets and other medications.
There are also lifestyle factors that can help, swimming is often recommended, as is setting aside time to relax and wind down.
Good sleep, mindfulness and meditation, can all help too.
If you are worried about arthritis, the first step should be to see your GP.
Revealed back injuries from a plane crash meant he was ruled out of more physical challenges.
Sat out a trial after being treated by a camp medic for an unknown injury following another challenge.
Dodged a high-wire trial called On The Tubes for unknown reasons, with Josie Gibson and Danielle Harold stepping in instead.
The comedian was exempt from all water-based challenges, for unknown reasons.
The soap legend, who is a vegan, dodged an eating and drinking challenge but declared “I’m not a wuss!”
Revealed she was exempt from trials after she “freaked out” after her first challenge.
Revealed she had been excluded from trials in confined spaces due to panic attacks and an anxiety disorder.
Revealed she was ruled out of a trial that required her to wear a harness, due to her breast implants.
