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Major blow to Wayne Rooney as big money TV project on brink of being cancelled due to failing managerial career
Fortunately for the family, Coleen is said to have telly execs lining up a few lucrative jobs for her
WHILE his wife is Down Under on I’m A Celebrity, Wayne Rooney is in Plymouth fighting to save his career.
But I can reveal there’s something almost as lucrative at stake for the footballing family — a big-money documentary which is supposed to be charting Wayne’s ascent in the world of managing.
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Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be going too well, with fears that he could end up leaving Plymouth Argyle after a poor run of results.
With the I’m A Celeb final taking place this Sunday, in a bit of bad timing, Wayne’s departure from the club might come shortly after Coleen exits the jungle.
A TV insider said: “The whole point of the documentary was to celebrate his move from player to becoming a manager.
“But obviously if that ends up being more of a horror show then the creators, or the Rooneys themselves, may pull the plug on the project.”
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The documentary is being made by Lorton Entertainment which also produced The Real Wagatha Story, the documentary about Coleen’s court battle with fellow Wag Rebekah Vardy, for Disney+, now available on ITVX.
It was expected that the finished Plymouth Argyle show would end up with one of the big streamers too, though that also seems uncertain now.
The first documentary Lorton made on Wayne, a feature-length 2022 programme simply called Rooney, dropped on Prime Video.
The production company also made Prime Video mini-series We Are Newcastle United and backed Boom! Boom!: The World Vs Boris Becker, a two-parter out on Apple TV+ last year.
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Fortunately for the family, matriarch Coleen is said to have telly execs lining up a few lucrative jobs for her on the back of having made an impression in the jungle.
I also exclusively revealed in February there was talk of doing an At Home With The Rooneys show.
Inside Wayne Rooney's incredible trophy room as wife Coleen gives rare glimpse inside Man Utd legend's house
Here’s hoping they materialise at speed.
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A PEAKY BLUNDER BY BEEB?
TELLY tough guy Vinnie Jones says there is still one show he wishes he had been in – BBC drama Peaky Blinders.
Vinnie is gearing up to play notorious gangster Danny Driscoll in the Only Fools And Horses musical at Hammersmith Eventim Apollo this Christmas.
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He told Chris Moyles on Radio X: “I mean, Fools And Horses, it’s one of them where you look at it same as that Peaky Blinders.
“Obviously, I wish I would have done that, because I thought I was made for that as well.
"Some things you think you’re made for, you know?”
Vinnie, who featured in this year’s Netflix smash The Gentleman, added: “I grew up with Only Fools And Horses, and when I was playing football, it was every footballer’s favourite TV show.
“And here we are, a few decades on, and I get asked to do it, and it’s an honour."
GAMBLE’S SAFE BET IS BACK
THERE are few sister shows I enjoy as much as The Traitors spin-off, Uncloaked, so I’m thrilled it is returning.
Presenter Ed Gamble will be back with the visualised podcast on New Year’s Day, when season three of Claudia Winkleman’s BBC One show begins.
The Beeb promises: “The podcast will take fans deeper with dissection of the episodes and exclusive access to the banished and murdered players.”
The juicy section where bumped-off contestants find out which of their pals are the traitors will also return.
Uncloaked will be available on BBC Two and iPlayer after every Traitors episode.
An extended version will be on BBC Sounds, which will also have weekly playlists of all the music from the show.
FORMER Top Gear and The Grand Tour host James May has launched a horseradish gin called Asian Parsnip Turbo.
James said: “This is a limited edition, unless you really like it, in which case we may unlimit it.” See jamesgin.com.
DUO TAKE PLUNGE?
A “WILL they, won’t they” romantic drama has been commissioned by the BBC based on a multi award-winning novel.
Open Water tells how keen photographer Marcus and dance student Effie feel an immediate connection when they meet.
But Effie is dating Marcus’ friend Samuel.
A shared project draws them together but can they resist the lure of love?
The story is being adapted into an eight-part series from Caleb Azumah Nelson’s 2021 novel of the same name.
Lindsay Salt of the BBC said: “Open Water is a tender, bold and dazzling story about the dance of early love and being seen for who you really are.”
STARS from top TV shows have signed up for gritty new thriller Inheritance.
The Sky drama will feature Wolf Hall’s Richard Dillane and Happy Valley’s Jack Bandeira.
Set in Bristol, the UK and Jamaica, the story follows a mixed-race lawyer investigating an inheritance claim.
SPLIT'S BRAVA BRAVO
IT’S only a two-part special, but the latest helping of legal drama The Split packs in more drama than most ten-episode series.
It sees central character Hannah (Nicola Walker) travel to Barcelona for her daughter Liv’s wedding to Spaniard Gael.
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Tagging along are Hannah’s sisters, Nina (Annabel Scholey) and Rose, (Fiona Button), plus her ex-husband Nathan (Stephen Mangan).
Things get complicated when we’re introduced to lawyer Hannah’s new love interest, hunky Archie, played by Toby Stephens, son of the late Dame Maggie Smith.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
But she isn’t the only family member caught up in complicated affairs of the heart – all of which is played out over one weekend.
The Split: Barcelona airs on December 29 and 30 on BBC One. Both episodes are available on BBC iPlayer on December 29.
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