Not even seconds into their first meeting, one I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star was already making references to Coleen Rooney’s legal battle with Rebekah Vardy.
The Wag, who is married to football legend Wayne Rooney, joins radio presenter Dean McCullough in camp this series where they’ll face Bushtucker Trials and compete to be crowned the next King or Queen of the Jungle.
Oti Mabuse, Danny Jones, Tulisa Contostavlos, Alan Halsall, Jane Moore, Melvin Odoom, Barry McGuigan, and GK Barry are also part of the cast, with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly returning as hosts to put the celebs through their paces.
No one got an easy start, as Danny, Tulisa, Jane, Oti, and Dean had to skydive onto the beach to meet the other campmates.
The five of them were on the clock, as they had to pick a partner to join them in the race to the finish line, all hoping to be made camp leaders and, more importantly, be declared exempt from the first trial.
Upon arriving on the sand, Dean had to choose between fellow Radio 1 DJ Melvin or TV personality Coleen.
Throwing loyalty to one side, he made it clear who he was most excited about seeing, sprinting over and screaming: ‘Melvin, I’m so, so sorry!’
Grabbing Coleen’s hand and running off, he yelled: ‘Wagatha Christie, you’re coming with me!’
The hilarious moment instantly caught the attention of viewers, who took to X in stitches.
User sinead_farrelly declared, ‘Give Dean the crown immediately’ while RobbieSewell1 wrote: ‘Dean just produced the line of the series in the first episode’.
While he may have already won the hearts of viewers, unfortunately for Dean, he and Coleen did not win the race, allowing Tulisa and Corrie’s Alan to snatch the titles of camp leaders.
Not only did this grant them the privilege of sleeping in luxury beds in the Leaders’ Lodge, but they also got to choose which of their campmates would take on the first trial to win stars for their meals.
Taking their seats on the joint leaders’ chairs around the campfire, Tulisa and Alan broke the news that Danny and Barry, who gave them a run for their money in the race, would tackle Mausoleum of Misery.
The first episode of I’m A Celebrity’s 24th series was packed with gags and meme-worthy moments – and we’re not just talking about Dean telling Ant and Dec that he had IBS.
Joining in on the Wagatha Christie jibes, the beloved Geordie duo were quick off the mark at the start of the episode, telling viewers: ‘It will be nice for Coleen to face a trial that doesn’t involve Rebekah Vardy.’
Liverpool-born Coleen, 38, follows in the footsteps of Rebekah, 42, who competed in the 17th series of the reality TV show in 2017.
Coleen was dubbed ‘Wagatha Christie’ when she penned a viral post accusing Norwich-born former friend Rebekah of leaking her private information to The Sun.
What followed was a high-profile court battle between the pair as Rebekah, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, launched a libel case.
Ultimately, in July 2022, a judge at the High Court found the post shared by Coleen was ‘substantially true’.
Having been defeated, Rebekah was ordered to pay 90% of Coleen’s legal costs.
Speaking ahead of her Jungle stint, Coleen admitted she ‘had never been exposed as much as this’.
‘I wasn’t nervous until (arriving),’ she added.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: I’m A Celebrity viewers declare their ‘winner’ after star’s iconic meltdown
MORE: Maura Higgins’ I’m A Celebrity arrival date ‘revealed’ after fears she’d quit