Coleen Rooney continues to cash in on her successful I’m A Celeb stint, with the WAG said to have signed a mega-money deal with Disney+ to film a reality TV series about life in the Rooney household. And while we can’t wait to gawp at the inside of her incredible mega-mansion, as well as gain an insight into her home life, we’re told Coleen’s friends are worried that husband Wayne won’t appreciate the spotlight being so firmly fixed on his missus.
‘Coleen is really excited at the idea of having her own reality show, but some people are worried that it could cause tension between her and Wayne,’ an insider tells heat. ‘Having kept a low-profile for so many years, stepping back into the limelight has renewed Coleen’s self-confidence. The only problem is Wayne is at a crossroads in his career and his friends worry being eclipsed by his wife could knock his self-esteem.’
However, we’re told Coleen is pushing to do the project, as she’s keen to capitalise on her I’m A Celeb success. But this hasn’t stopped red flags being raised.
‘Her and Wayne’s mutual friends are worried that the producers might want to show Coleen as the one calling the shots at home, while Wayne could be portrayed as this kind of dithering background presence,’ we’re told. ‘But’s that’s more because he can be camera shy – reality TV just isn’t his thing. Coleen has had more experience – she’s a real natural.’
Coleen, 38, was never short of fans even before her victory over Rebekah Vardy in the 2022 Wagatha Christie trial, and she won a legion of new admirers with her no-nonsense attitude in the I’m A Celeb jungle last year. In the meantime, since retiring from football in 2021, 39-year-old Wayne’s professional life has been a far cry from his glory days with England and Manchester Utd. And after leaving his most-recent role as manager of Plymouth Argyle in December without a new position to move on to, he’s been living in the shadow of his wife of 17 years, with whom he shares sons Kai, 15, Klay, 11, Kit, nine, and Cass, seven.
In fact, Coleen joked that her post-I’m A Celeb fame has eclipsed her husband’s, saying, ‘Even on school runs, Wayne has passed his sell-by-date so no one has a clue [who he is]. But then all of a sudden, we get kids going, “Oh, Coleen Rooney!”’
And while Wayne was the subject of Amazon Prime documentary Rooney in 2022, that didn’t quite make the same waves as Netflix’s Beckham and Coleen’s own Disney+ docuseries The Real Wagatha Story.
After plenty of ups and downs in their marriage, Coleen and Wayne seem to be in a better place than ever, but, as our source explains, the stress of filming a reality show could rock the boat.
‘Her friends are begging her to really think it through. People can be vicious on social media and, if there was a big wave of hatred or mockery towards Wayne, they’re worried it could cause him to act out.’
But despite the misgivings of her inner circle, Coleen – who will reportedly receive £5million from the Disney+ deal – is keen to give viewers more insights into her home life, as the positive responses to her reunion scenes with her boys on I’m A Celeb have left her convinced there is an audience for more family-based content.
‘Coleen is hoping that this will show the family in a new light, especially after the drama with Becky,’ our insider says.
‘A reality show could be fun for the kids and give them something to look back on when they’re older. Coleen knows that people will judge them no matter what, but she feels as though they’ve got nothing to hide. Plus, fans might get a kick out of seeing how normal and fun they are behind closed doors.’