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28th Sep 2024

Mick McCarthy tipped to appear in this year’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here

Ryan Price

The former Ireland boss and captain is reportedly heading to the Australian jungle in November.

Rumours are circulating on social media that the former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is heading down under this November to take part in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

The 24th series of the iconic show is set to kick off sometime in early November, with the likes of Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd, N-Dubz singer and former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos and disgraced TV presenter Phillip Schofield all rumoured to be heading into the jungle.

The newest name to emerge as a potential contestant is ex-footballer and manager McCarthy, who has been out of work since leaving his post as Blackpool boss in 2023.

The 65-year-old wouldn’t be the first football man to transition into the world of reality television.  Ex-Lioness Jill Scott, Ian Wright, David Ginola, and Harry Redknapp have all appeared on I’m A Celeb in recent years.

Fans on X were excited by the rumours of McCarthy’s inclusion in the cast, with one commenting: “Mick McCarthy on I’m A Celeb would be pure cinema.”

Another joked: “Roy Keane will be mystery guest joining the jungle in week 2.”

One other person added: “Any chance it can be moved to a jungle in Saipan this year?”

If McCarthy does enter the jungle, many will be tuning in to hear if he opens up about what happened between Roy Keane and himself during the preparations for the 2002 World Cup in Saipan.

The ‘Saipan incident’ as it’s infamously known in Ireland was a public quarrel in May 2002 between Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy.

A fallout between the two resulted in Keane, undoubtedly the country’s best player at the time, being sent home from the squad.

The incident divided public opinion in Ireland regarding who was to blame.

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