Coleen Rooney's secret link to former I'm A Celebrity star over sons' sweet friendship

Coleen often sees former I'm A Celebrity runner-up and ex boxer Tony Bellew, with the sportsman offering some words of wisdom to his fellow Scouser before she enters the jungle

Coleen Rooney has a secret link to former I'm A Celebrity star Tony Bellew, ahead of the WAG's jungle debut on Sunday night.

The mum-of-four, who shares her children with ex-footballer Wayne Rooney, 39, will make her entrance into the ITV reality show this weekend, and has already headed Down Under to prepare herself. Coleen, 38, was spotted arriving at Brisbane Airport after leaving her kids behind for four weeks as she takes part in this year's series.

But she's already got the backing of former I'm A Celeb runner-up, boxer Tony Bellew, who has recently seen Coleen. Tony, 41, took part in series 23 of I'm a Celebrity UK, entering the camp on Day 5 and leaving on Day 22.

He was just beaten to the crown by reality TV personality Sam Thompson - but he finished ahead of former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who came third. And Tony has nothing but good things to say about his fellow Scouser, admitting she's a "crafty girl", and a "brilliant person", who he sees regularly through their kids' football training.

"I saw Coleen recently," Tony told Best Offshore Sportsbooks. "If she's to go in, she has obviously got my best wishes and I'm wishing her all the very best. We've just got to wait now and see where she's at and how she does. She's a crafty girl. She's a proper Scouser and everyone should be behind her from my city and not just from my city, from everywhere, because she's one of the best people you could wish to know. A brilliant mother.

"Our kids both play in academies so we come across each other often. She's always there supporting the kids on the sidelines. She's done a brilliant job, fantastic mother, a brilliant person. And she's created a lovely family. I’m rooting for her 100%."

Devoted Coleen has recruited a "village" of family to look after her children while she is in the jungle, having covered two huge whiteboards on "both sides" with instructions. Planning out the rest of the year for her four sons, Kai, 15, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, six, Coleen has detailed every party, pick up, drop off and footy training session for the next four weeks.

With Wayne away managing Championship side Plymouth Argyle, he works more than 300 miles away from the family's Cheshire home, meaning she's drafted in family to help. She opened up about her biggest anxiety in the lead up to the start of the ITV show, which starts on Sunday 17 November at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Speaking on the Instagram video, she revealed: "I am really anxious about leaving the kids. That’s my biggest thing, and for weeks and months that’s been on my mind. But I’ve come to terms with it. I’ve planned, I’ve prepped, I’ve got an army of people — family, friends, school friends — all helping out with the kids."

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