Ally McCoist turned down ITV I'm A Celeb twice over "cockroach fears"

The popular ITV show kicks off next month with the star-studded line-up yet to be announced.

Rangers legend Ally McCoist previously revealed he turned down offers for I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here because he doesn't like creepy crawlies.

The football star, who remains as Rangers ' all-time top scorer with 355 goals in 581 matches and won eight league titles, was offered the opportunity to head to Australia in 2019 and again in 2022 but decided it wasn't for him.

And Ally, 62, admitted his wife and kids stopped speaking to him after he knocked back the chance to appear on one of the families' favourite shows.

In 2022, the dad-of-five said: “The bit where you jump out of the helicopter or plane at the start - I'd like to do that. But then rest is downhill. You don't really know until you're there but I actually think being in the coffin with the rats and snakes - from where I'm sitting right now - I don't think that would bother me that much. I'm not a fan of cockroaches.”

He then said that his wife Vivian and their two sons are huge fans of the show as well as his three older kids from his first marriage.

He went on to say that his family were gutted when he turned down the chance to appear in the line-up back in 2019 - they were so annoyed at him, in fact, that they gave him the silent treatment.

After rejecting the show's offer, he said: “The kids aren't talking to me at all. The younger ones would love it and the older ones would love it as well. They are going to school and they are getting it off their pals.

“My wife is not giving a monkey's about me eating spiders and earwigs, she is just wanting a two stretch in that Versace hotel. It's the biggest thing we watch as a family, it's brilliant entertainment. Harry was fantastic last year.” He also said he was a huge fan of presenters Ant and Dec describing them as “magic”.

However fans were left delighted by the news that super Ally may have changed his tune. We earlier told how the sports pundit is in "advanced talks" with show bosses for this year's line-up.

The show is set to kick off next month.

A source said: “Ally has such a huge fan base thanks to his years of commentating and punditry, plus his long stint on A Question of Sport. He’d be great for the jungle - as his wife and kids have been telling him forever - so everyone is really hopeful that this will be the year.”

Rumours have been swirling around who will be joining hosts Ant and Dec down under. Whispers have mentioned that the likes of gymnast Max Whitlock, former pop star Tulisa Contostavlos, boxer Tommy Fury, dancer Oti Mabuse, Corrie’s Alan Halsall and influencer GK Barry could all be on our screens in their jungle get-up.

I'm A Celeb latest jungle news

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Sports stars turned pundits appear to be fan favourites when they appear on the show.

Ally’s former Question of Sport rival Phil Tuffnell was crowned King of the Jungle on the 2002 series, and footballer John Fashanu finished second. Others to take the floral crown include footballer Jill Scott, motorcycle racer Carl Fogarty and tennis ace Martina Navratilova.

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The star has recently hit headlines after he received a OBE from the Prince of Wales for his dedication to football and broadcasting, which Ally described as the 'highlight of his career'.

Last week, after receiving the award, Ally was asked about the highlight of his career and he said: "Probably this, to tell you the gospel truth, and I really mean that. I’ve been very, very blessed to do something I love effectively all my life."

He went on to add that it was a career highlight, saying: “There’s not many people who can get up in the morning and genuinely love what they’re doing. Playing football for a living was a dream, to do it professionally for 22 years was absolutely fabulous.”

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