Celebs Go Dating is back with a bang, bringing some much-needed entertainment to our screens each night throughout the third UK-wide lockdown.
Wayne Lineker is one of eight cast members joining the celeb dating agency, hoping to find love with the help of coaches Anna Williamson and Paul Carrick Brunson.
The most mature singleton in the group, Wayne will be joined by the likes of Geordie lass Chloe Ferry, Love Island’s Curtis Pritchard, Corrie’s Kimberly Hart-Simpson on the show.
Wayne, 58, is the younger brother of footie ace Gary Lineker, 60, and made his fortune in the 80s with a towering nightlife empire scattered across Spain.
Below, we take a look at everything you need to know about the star, from his controversial requirements for a girlfriend to his family life.
Famous brother Gary
Wayne and Gary grew up together in Leicester, playing football as kids (Image: PA)
Born in Leicester, Wayne is two years younger than his brother Gary, with the pair playing football together throughout their childhood.
When Gary left school in the 70s, his football career took off, and he went on to become one of the greatest English strikers of all time.
Meanwhile, Wayne became a businessman, opening own brand of sports bars called Lineker’s Bar, and eventually building up a hefty property portfolio.
In 2016, Wayne claimed he and Gary weren’t on speaking terms, following alleged tensions with brother’s ex-wife Danielle Bux.
He told the publication: “In my opinion, Danielle cost me my relationship with my brother. Sadly Gary is no longer a part of my life. Within a year we had spent less time talking than we ever had before.”
Thankfully, it seems there is no bad blood between the brothers today, with Wayne even sharing a tribute to Gary on his sixtieth birthday last month.
Marking the landmark birthday, he shared a throwback photo from their childhood and wrote: “Happy Birthday 60th big bro ..I will always be proud of you. Love you lots.”
Model daughter
Tia Lineker modelled a range of swimwear for PrettyLittleThing last year (Image: PrettyLittleThing)
Wayne Lineker’s daughter Tia is set to follow in the Lineker family’s footsteps and make it big in showbiz, having launched a successful career as a model.
Last summer, the 22-year-old modelled a swimwear range for PrettyLittleThing, and has a whopping 469,000 Instagram followers to her name.
With a touch of her dad’s business savvy, Tia has also launched a luxury athleisure line known as Sport Luxe, as well as a brand of unisex classic fedora hats named Palms Halt.
The stunning influencer is Wayne’s only daughter, but he also has three sons from previous relationships.
His eldest son, Duane, co-founded the Ocean Beach club with his businessman dad, and two of Wayne’s younger sons also work in his venues.
Business empire
Wayne launched his empire of night clubs and bars in the late 80s (Image: waynelineker/Instagram)
Wayne’s empire began in 1988, when he opened a successful sports bar in Tenerife known as Lineker’s Bar.
The chain began popping up across Spain, and over the years his portfolio expanded, with Ocean Beach in Ibiza becoming one of his latest major business ventures.
Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic hit him hard, and Wayne was forced to shut his operations in Ibiza due to restrictions.
Last August, Wayne broke the news of the closure with a picture of himself slumped outside a club, saying: “The first to fall. As from today @linekersibiza is closed.
“Covid 1 Linekers 0 due to new government Covid legislation we are now closed.”
Promising the venues would reopen in 2021, he added: “We may have lost the battle but we will not lose the war. But we’re healthy so still blessed …See you next year #ibiza2021big#brokenheart.”
Making serious dough over the years, Wayne’s nightlife empire is claimed to be worth around £30 million.
Girlfriend requirements
Wayne’s dream woman is “intelligent but not boring,” the businessman has revealed (Image: Wayne Lineker/Instagram)
Last September, Wayne made headlines when he released his questionable list of “requirements” for a potential girlfriend, sharing it online.
The tycoon, who will turn 60 next year, claimed his family urged him to find a girlfriend, nearly three years after splitting from his model ex Danielle Sandhu, 28.
Wayne insisted his date couldn’t be the same age as him because “that would just look weird”.
He also requested that a prospective partner should have “no baggage as mine are all grown up”.
The staggering list continued: “House music and R&B lovers only. No heavy rock or pop music. You must like Netflix especially money heist and also real crime. No chick flicks watch them with your mates.”
Closing the list of requirements, Wayne added that he is looking for someone who is “intelligent but not boring”.
Though the list was posted over four months ago, strangely enough, Wayne is still single.
Catch him looking for love on Celebs Go Dating, which launches on Monday, January 25 at 9pm on E4.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
