Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar backs pal Barry McGuigan for I’m A Celeb and says ‘he will be there to take over’
It comes after the 'real' reason Barry agreed to jungle life was revealed
By Beth Allcock
13th November 2024,11:12 am
Updated: 13th November 2024,11:34 am
Line of Duty's Adrian Dunbar backs pal Barry McGuigan for I'm A Celeb
ACTOR Adrian Dunbar has revealed his money’s on pal Barry McGuigan to scoop the I’m A Celebrity 2024 title.
The Line of Duty star told how his boxing star mate – who is part of the ITV reality series’ latest star-studded line-up – “will be there to take over.”
Adrian Dunbar has revealed he’s backing boxer pal Barry McGuigan on I’m A Celebrity
Rex
The boxer is part of the ITV reality show line-up
Getty
Adrian told how Barry, 63, is a ‘competitor’ and would be ‘taking over’
He told Wednesday’s ITV Lorraine: “Barry’s in there!
“I tell you one thing about Barry McGuigan he will be there to take over.
“He’s a competitor, I’m putting my money on Barry definitely.
“He’ll be good.”
He added: “I read something where he said himself it’s the mental end, it won’t be the physical thing for him because he’s always been really physically fit.
“So it’ll be the mental thing for Barry – we’ll see how that goes.
On Wednesday’s Lorraine he echoed the cryptic comments and said: “There’s more than a bit of hope it’s going to happen.”
Boxer Barry McGuigan awkwardly dodges I'm A Celeb questions as he lands in Australia ahead of show launch
He added: “We want it to happen, they want it to happen, it just depends when.
“Jed [Mercurio, writer] has to write it.”
JUNGLE BACKING
Meanwhile, Barry has been backed by another sporting ace who is confident of his jungle chances.
Four-times boxing world champion Carl Froch has gushed over Barry’s chances and said: “I’d expect him to thrive in the jungle. He’ll be able to talk to people from all different walks of life and communicate well with some of the other talents from different professions there.
I'm A Celebrity 2024
As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year...
Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will be making a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to head into the camp this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
Tulisa – The popstar and former X Factor judge looks set to be making a triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year’s I’m A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
Alan Halsall – The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities when he gets into camp.
Melvin Odoom – The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet – the Aussie jungle.
GK Barry – The UK’s biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brand such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
Dean McCullough – A rising star amongst this year’s bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
Oti Mabuse – The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She origianlly found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Danny Jones – The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he’s now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom. A jungle insider said: “As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he’ll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home.”
Maura Higgins – The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge – having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane’s first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
Barry McGuigan – Former pro boxer Barry will become the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to breast cancer. He told : “She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache.”
Rev. Richard Coles – Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is set for I’m A Celebrity — and is ready to let rip at his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year.An insider said: “Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth.”
“That being said, nobody will be able to walk all over him in there. He’ll be good value for money, he won’t be afraid to have a go at someone if he doesn’t agree with them.
“He won’t be there to play a game and win; I don’t think he will care less.
He added to : “Whether he’s there for a week or goes on to win it, he’ll just enjoy the experience and be a good addition to the show.
“I don’t usually watch it unless the kids want to watch the trials, but if Barry’s there then I’ll definitely tune in.”
ITV famously offer the cast huge sums of money to take part, and the payday couldn’t come at a better time for Barry, following his multi-million-pound legal dispute.
Although his current net worth remains unknown, he has had several financial issues due to failed companies and a crippling £6million legal battle.
Earlier this year, it was reported that two companies linked to him were to be liquidated following meetings with their creditors.
Cyclone Promotions Ltd and McGuigan’s Gym Ltd were run by the boxer, his wife and their three sons.
But eventually, most of them resigned as directors with his wife staying on.
In 2020, he was also involved in a £6million legal battle from disputes over earnings with boxer Carl Frampton.
Carl sued Barry and Cyclone Promotions for allegedly withholding earnings and Barry also took the boxer to court, citing a breach of contract.
Both men vehemently denied the allegations against each other and eventually settled the case out of court.
ITV
Adrian admitted Barry might struggle with the ‘mental’ elements of camp life
The boxing manager has endured a host of financial woes of late
