Coleen Rooney's life-changing experience and 'struggles' husband Wayne faced

Coleen Rooney has opened up about her time on I'm A Celebrity, describing the experience as transformative and a chance to prove she's no "princess" despite retaining her strong bond with husband Wayne.

She highlighted how football great Wayne was there for her during the taxing Wagatha Christie trial, and now she's supporting him following his departure from managing Plymouth Argyle.

Emerging from the jungle not only as a prominent figure but now also a beloved national icon, Coleen is tipped for her own TV shows. The mum-of-four captivated viewers with her genuine persona and family devotion, securing second place.

Coleen, 38, reflected when speaking to the Mirror: "Life throws different things at you. My marriage has been a massive thing in the press, and I got through that. People are so opinionated, but I've always thought that it's my life, so let me get on with it – it's got nothing to do with anyone else."

She went on to say: "The whole court case, everyone had a different opinion. I've just gone into the jungle which was a different challenge for me, but coming out, I've had so many people coming up to me and saying that they understand my life. I know I've always been a tough person, I'm not a princess – I've always tackled things and got on with it. I wouldn't say I could tackle the world now though."

Coleen shared heartfelt insights on her and husband Wayne's journey through fame, highlighting the struggles they've faced. "We [Wayne and I] have helped each other – we've gone through everything together. He's probably struggled more than me – people have hated on him, and it's tough because he's out there every week. He told me while I was in the jungle that he was getting chants about me all the time."

She also shared fond memories of their growth together: "I grew with Wayne Rooney, from him going from just being a player to this big superstar. We've gone through it together."

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The couple are doting parents to Kai, 15, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, six. During her time in the jungle on I'm A Celeb, Coleen's support system included her two youngest and her mother, Colette, who flew to Australia. On the Stick to Football podcast, she opened up about her experience and public perception.

She said: "The impact from I'm A Celeb has been massive. I knew it was a big show, but I didn't think people would take that much interest in me. I've done stuff in the past but the amount of people that have not got me and my personality, they've just taken bits and bobs and not seen me as a person. Being in the public eye, people forget that we are just normal people. I started being in the public eye when I was 16 – it's been a long time. It's been so nice and positive [the reaction from the show]."

Her stint on the show prompted self-reflection: "When my mum come into the jungle I said to her, 'Am I dead boring?' I felt like I was just dead boring compared to everyone else. It's an experience that I'll never do again but I'm glad that I did do it. I've met people [in the jungle] that I'll keep in contact with – the group chat is going off all the time."

Meanwhile, reflecting on the toll the Wagatha case took on them and their relationship, Coleen confessed: "It was the lowest I'd say I've ever been – I had no control over it and that was hard. I knew what I was saying was right, but the fact that someone else took me to court and I had to prove it and say it was what it was was tough. It was a long period of time and I couldn't get away from it. Every day, I'd wake up and think 'Coleen, just get on with your day' – but it kept creeping back in all the time. I felt like I wasn't myself, I was snappy, and every Friday the lawyers rang me – the other team try and ruin your weekend by calling at the last point on Friday."

She added: "They'd tell me what's going on and then to try and have a nice weekend. I'd go away and start overthinking things, and start looking for things that he's asking for. It got to 2am, Wayne would be waiting on the couch to watch something and eventually say 'I'm going to bed'. It put a strain on family life, friends – I wasn't sociable, and it stripped me."

In a chat with football legends Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane and Ian Wright on their podcast, Coleen Rooney shared some rather amusing yet slightly concerning household tales. She recounted how Wayne once nearly caused a fire at their home after using her hairdryer to aid his sleep.

The habit backfired when he switched the setting from cool to hot because he felt cold and it blew up. Coleen said: "It's a fan when I'm in the bed, but if not, it is a hairdryer. If I get up, if he's still in bed I hear him get a hairdryer. Has he told you that it's caught on fire before? The hairdryer is on cool, but one time he was cold, so it turned it to hot – and it blew up!"

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