King Harry Redknapp urges Arsene Wenger to join I'm A Celeb: 'He'll love it'

Redknapp said it could be a good stopgap in between jobs
Jungle king: Harry Redknapp took the 2018 title
Rex Features
Emma Powell11 December 2018
The Weekender

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Harry Redknapp has urged Arsene Wenger to jet Down Under for a stint in the I’m A Celebrity jungle.

The jam roly-poly-loving football manager was crowned King on Sunday night after surviving three weeks in camp with stars including Emily Atack and John Barrowman.

Redknapp, 71, has suggested Wenger, who was recently honoured with the Service to Football Award, give it a go while he looks for a new role after stepping down from his 22 year tenure as Arsenal manager at the end of last season.

He told The Sun: “Arsene should get in there, he’ll love it. I’m not sure he could laugh as much as I did. I think he’d find it interesting.”

Reality TV: Harry Redknapp wants Arsene Wenger to head into the jungle
Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Redknapp, who managed Premier League clubs including West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur, also encouraged managers to fly their teams into the Australian outback, claiming it would help players to bond. “What would be a good idea is if football clubs take their players there on pre-season,” he said.

“Go in there for a week, same as we’ve done. That would be a bonding session. It would be great for team spirit.”

He added: “Having won the jungle, I’m waiting for one of the top six clubs to ring me. I’m ready.”

Redknapp won over viewers with his jam roly-poly obsession, his hatred of rice and beans, and with his touching tributes to wife Sandra, who he was briefly reunited with in camp.

He said he came close to pulling out after Sandra was taken to hospital after she contracted sepsis – a life-threatening complication to an infection which can lead to multiple organ failure – before the show started.

I'm a Celebrity .. Get Me Out of Here! 2018 - In pictures

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He told The Sun: “She's been ill with the sepsis and it's knocked her for six.

“It was only five weeks ago. Sandra was in and out of hospital but she wanted to come over to Australia. I was worried about her coming, I didn't know if it was going to be too much for her.”

Some 12.1 million people tuned in to watch Redknapp beat Atack to take the jungle crown on Sunday night’s grand final.

I’m A Celebrity: The Coming Out Show is on ITV, Wednesday at 9pm

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