Ant and Dec name which ex-Premier League legend they want on I’m A Celebrity

Ant and Dec name which ex-Premier League legend they want on the next series of this ITV hit show ‘I’m A Celebrity’, surprising fans online.

The last series was accused of being too nice, and in a bid to bring some controversy, co-host Ant believes he knows the right person to sign up next.

That man is former Republic of Ireland and Man Utd player Roy Keane, joining a long list of footballers to have appeared on the television series.

He said of the ex-midfielder turned 49 year old Sky Sports pundit: “It’s always good to have people that will speak their mind and ruffle a few feathers.

“As much as we love people getting on and having fun, we also love a bit of conflict there.”

Dec added: “Roy Keane for me. I’d love to see him treat his fellow campmates with the same disdain he treats Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp.

“He’d be no-nonsense, he wouldn’t put up with stupidity from the others. He’s top of my list.”

It was back in 2014 that Keane confirmed that he has been approached to appear on ‘I’m on Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here’.

He told Shortlist that although he has rejected the offer – he could consider it in the future, and his latest actions are anything to go by, joining Instagram and showing a soft side thanks to Micah Richards, he’s getting easily persuaded as he gets older.

“I’ve had the Celebrity Big Brother offers and the jungle stuff [I’m A Celebrity…].

“I met the jungle people, but I thought, “Nah, not for me.”

“But the more you say no, the more determined they are to get you, so who knows?

“There’s more to life than football.”

There have been quite a lot of ex-footballers to have appeared on the show and not all of them has been popular with the viewers.

We’ve seen the likes of Jimmy Bullard, John Fashanu, Ian Wright, Harry Redknapp, Wayne Bridge, Kieran Dyer, Neil Ruddock, Dennis Wise and Rodney Marsh.

Ant said on doing a Bushtucker Trial because of Joel Dommett, host of the spin-off show Extra Camp: “We never thought we’d get persuaded but then Joel surprised us on set. I’m glad we did. We can now say we’ve done it.”

But Dec added: “I would happily have gone to my grave never having done a Bushtucker Trial. I don’t feel any sense of satisfaction. I’m sorry it ever happened!”

As Ant and Dec name which ex-Premier League legend they want on I’m A Celebrity, former England player Paul Gascoigne is set to join the Italian version.

It has been confirmed that he will be a contestant on the Italian version of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! which is due to air next month.

The 53 year old — who played for Serie A side Lazio in the 1990s — and has undergone extensive mental and physical tests to prove he’s fit and ready to appear in the show.

It’s been well documented that the Geordie has a history of drink and drug abuse and doctors and psychologists wanted to be sure he could last the entirety of the TV series.

He is expected to jump out of a helicopter into the sea and made to swim to dry land before braving the risk of tropical storms.

The Italian show, which is called Isola de Famosi — Island of the Famous and brings in around an audience of 3m viewers, will be filmed in Honduras, Central America, starting on the 11th of March and running for two months.

The ex-Rangers, Newcastle, Tottenham, Middlesbrough and Everton midfielder put pen to paper on Friday, causing quite a stir on social media as users reacted to the news.

His signing is described to be coup for Mediaset — a TV firm owned by controversial former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, making him one of the show’s most famous bookings.

A source said: “Getting Gascoigne has been hard work but will be worth it.

“He’s such a character. He is the biggest star of the show. He passed all his tests while in isolation in Italy. No issues were uncovered so he’ll fly to Honduras with the others next weekend.

“The fact communication may be an issue will all add to the reality of being stranded on a desert island.’’

www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies

The contestants will quarantine in Honduras for two weeks before the show starts.

It is thought UK authorities let Gazza take part as it is work related and he is not travelling to red list countries.

Can he go on to win the show? Will he prove popular with the viewers?