Danny Cipriani has reportedly withdrawn from this year’s edition of I’m A Celebrity due to the unraveling of his two-year marriage.
The former England fly-half was set to make a substantial six-figure income for his appearance in the Jungle, reports MailOnline, with ITV executives working diligently to secure his participation. Cipriani’s inclusion even inspired other potential contestants to join the show.
However, just days before the program’s anticipated broadcast, the 36-year-old athlete announced his separation from his wife, Victoria. This unexpected development reportedly shocked bosses as his involvement had been highly anticipated.
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It’s claimed trouble began to brew in September when Victoria, 42, expressed reservations about the explicit content in Cipriani’s autobiography. The former England ace boasted about his past liaisons, stating that he slept with “three women a day, from porn stars to actresses to girls I meet at the coffee shop.” This revelation about his “wild” past seemed to have triggered a series of hostile exchanges, ultimately leading to the couple’s separation.
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Cipriani was dubbed “one of the most exciting signings for this series.” In August, a source said: “He will be the hunk of the lineup, and already there is talk of him and shower scenes amongst staff working on the program.
“There is also huge anticipation that he will reveal secrets from his showbiz lifestyle, he has been linked to many women over the years, and his scandals are well documented too so there will be lots for him to share.” Cipriani, known for his past associations with high-profile figures such as the late Caroline Flack, Lindsay Lohan, and television presenter Kirsty Gallacher, was poised to earn at least double the compensation of other contestants, including This Morning’s Josie Gibson.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
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A close friend of Victoria’s told MailOnline: “Victoria knew that dating a high-profile sportsman would attract unwanted attention to their relationship. However, some of the stories in Danny’s book, especially regarding his sex life with past lovers, were pretty hard to absorb when written down in black and white for everyone to see.”
The source continued, “The marriage was never the same afterward.” Victoria took to Instagram earlier this week to share with her 11,000 followers that her divorce is “one of the worst times in my life.”
I’m A Celebrity.. Get Me Out of Here! returns to ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, November 19 at 9pm
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
