Coleen Rooney is heading Down Under into the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here jungle, leaving husband Wayne Rooney with a long list of instructions for their four children.
The couple have been married for 16 years but have famously endured testing times along the way, including when Wayne, 39, was caught drink driving after a boozy night out with estate agent Laura Simpson in 2017.
It wasn't the first time Coleen, 38, has forgiven the former England captain for his bad behaviour - back in 2004 the then teenage Everton star hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. It was reported that despite being in a serious relationship with Coleen, Wayne had paid at least 10 late night visits to a £45-a-time brothel in Liverpool.
The footballer had allegedly slept with Gina McCarrick, then 37, as well as Patricia Tierney, a 48-year-old grandmother cruelly nicknamed the "Auld Slapper".
Image:
ITV)Image:
PA)Mum-of-seven Patricia denied these claims, while Rooney went on to admit to sleeping with unnamed prostitutes. He released a public statement that read: "Foolish as it now seems I did on occasions visit massage parlours and prostitutes. I now regret it deeply and hope people may understand that it was the sort of mistake you make when you are young and stupid. It was at a time when I was very young and immature."
Coleen didn't publicly comment on the claims, but later revealed that she and Wayne were yet to have sex when he visited the brothel. "The truth is, and I've never said this before, at that time in our relationship I'd never even slept with Wayne. I was only 16 and we weren't having that kind of relationship at that stage. We used to meet at the chippy or the cinema," she said in her autobiography.
Grandmother-of-16 Patricia launched a legal battle against The Sun newspaper's claims and said she had only ever worked as a receptionist at Diva's massage parlour, and never worked as a prostitute. But in 2012, it was reported that Patricia had told police she was a prostitute in a statement back in May 2002, and she was warned she could face prosecution for attempting to pervert the course of justice. Her solicitors withdrew her £750,000 damages claim and she was never able to clear her name.
It was a devastating defeat for Patricia, who offered her sympathy to Coleen afterwards. "The poor girl should not have to suffer this. It will take its toll on her health. I feel so desperately sorry for Coleen that all this is being dredged-up again," Patricia said in 2012.
Image:
Getty Images)"At the time I was working as a receptionist at the parlour. I didn't even know who Wayne Rooney was and I never had sex with him. I wrote letters to Coleen afterwards explaining everything but she never answered me." She added: "I am still fighting to clear my name to this day. I owe £500,000 in legal costs. My house has gone and the stress made me ill."
It was reported in 2010 that Patricia, then 56, was battling breast cancer and feared she would not survive her upcoming 17-hour operation. Patricia's "dying" letter to Coleen was shared in the press as she continued to try and share her side of the story.
In the handwritten note - that was penned by her daughter, Patricia Jnr, then 34 - the grandma once again assured Coleen she only worked on reception. "Dear Coleen, my mum never was, and never has been, a prostitute," the letter read.
"The mistake she made was to accept a job in a brothel as a receptionist for cash in hand, which she now regrets. She has never slept with Wayne. She knows it and Wayne knows it. We have nothing left but hope that you or Wayne come forward to tell the truth that my mum hasn't slept with Wayne. Thank you once again for taking the time to read this letter. Hope to hear from you."
Rooney's advisor reportedly told her: "My client cannot help", and his spokesman said he had "no comment" on the letter. The grandmother has since not appeared in the public eye and nothing is known about her health battle.
English (US) ·