Coleen Rooney became emotional on Monday, as she opened up to her campmate about the tragic loss of her little sister Rosie on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The WAG, 38, spoke to her campmates about Rosie, who tragically passed away in 2013 aged 14 after a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities.
Following boxer Barry McGuigan tears as he spoke about the loss of his daughter Danika from cancer in 2019 aged 33, Coleen could be seen struggling with her own feelings of grief.
Confiding in Dean McCullough and Oti Mabuse, she said: ‘I don’t usually get worked up. It takes me a lot. Even when Rosie died, I kept it together for me mum and dad.’
She went on: ‘When you’re away and in different environments, it’s when you’ve got time to stop and think. Rosie’s anniversary is January.’
Coleen added: ‘She was 14 when she died, she’d be 26 now. It’s hard to lose a child, I’ve always said that… so we’re lucky to have what we’ve got.’
Coleen Rooney became emotional on Monday, as she opened up to her campmate about the tragic loss of her little sister Rosie on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The WAG, 38, spoke to her campmates about Rosie, who tragically passed away in 2013 aged 14 after a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities (pictured together)
Following boxer Barry McGuigan tears as he spoke about the loss of his daughter Danika from cancer in 2019 aged 33, Coleen could be seen struggling with her own feelings of grief
The TV personality grew up caring for her younger sister, after her family took Rosie in as a foster child when she was two years old.
In her early 20s, Coleen made two pilgrimages – in 2008 and 2010 – to Lourdes, France, to pray for a healing miracle for Rosie.
Lourdes is one of the most revered sites for Roman Catholics because it is said to have been where a 14-year-old peasant girl called Bernadette Soubirous was said to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1858.
Some six million pilgrims visit Lourdes annually, many to bathe in the grotto’s normally tranquil spring waters that are said to be healing and pray for miracles at its altar.
In emotional scenes from her Disney+ series about the Wagatha Christie scandal last year, Coleen broke down in tears speaking about her late sibling.
She explained that her family had previously just provided respite care, but it soon became clear that ‘Rosie was different’.
She recalled: ‘When Rosie came along she was a massive part of our lives. She was the sister that I never thought I was going to have.’
Speaking to her mother Colette and father Tony, Coleen continued: ‘I used to do her hair and used to love picking clothes with me mum for her. She brought that little bit extra to the house. We fell in love with her.’
The TV personality grew up caring for her younger sister, after her family took Rosie in as a foster child when she was two years old (pictured)
In her early 20s, Coleen made two pilgrimages – in 2008 and 2010 – to Lourdes, France, to pray for a healing miracle for Rosie (pictured in 2010 with husband Wayne)
In emotional scenes from her Disney+ series about the Wagatha Christie scandal last year, Coleen broke down in tears speaking about her late sibling (pictured)
Coleen marked the 11th anniversary of Rosie’s death at the start of the year, sharing sweet photos of her teenage sister with her eldest son Kai, 15, and telling her she her she ‘loved her to the moon and back’
Yet the family soon realised that Rosie was struggling with her development, and after a series of hospital tests she was diagnosed with Rett syndrome.
Coleen explained: ‘Rosie, she struggled. She couldn’t walk and talk and would be in pain and sick but she still put a smile on her face.
‘Sometimes she used to force a laugh out. I think it was just to make my mum and dad happy.
‘Gradually her brain wasn’t functioning so she couldn’t eat anymore, couldn’t talk, move.’
Rosie needed 24-hour care and after suffering from ‘lots of complications’ and being admitted to intensive care, Colette revealed the family decided to bring her home to spend her final days surrounded by her loved ones.
‘We had a sleepover, one last sleepover, all of us together,’ she explained. ‘And then we had a big party to celebrate her life.’
Breaking down in tears, Coleen said: ‘To lose a child is the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone but when you look back now she gave us so many good years of happiness and love.’
Revealing the impact Rosie’s death has had on her 10 years on, Coleen explained: ‘because of the things that have happened in my life, I try to be strong for others.
‘I don’t want people worrying about me when there’s other things going on in their life but sometimes I can crack.’
Colette went on to suggest that her daughter didn’t fully process the pain she’d been through until she found herself in America when Wayne transferred to D.C United.
She explained: ‘It’s been 10 years now and Coleen she never spoke about it much. In America she had a lot of time so she must have done a lot of thinking then.
‘But she hides a lot so it’s hard to say what is going on in her mind.’
Coleen marked the anniversary of Rosie’s death at the start of the year, with a moving tribute.
She took to her Instagram to share a slew of sweet photos of her teenage sister with her eldest son Kai, 15, who was born in 2009.
She told her late sibling she ‘loved her to the moon and back’ as she marked 11 years since her devastating death.
Coleen captioned the post: ’11 years without you. We love and miss you always Rosie Mc.’
I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP
OTI MABUSE
Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: Professional dancer
FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.
DANNY JONES
Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: McFly singer
FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.
He is also a coach on The Voice UK.
BARRY MCGUIGAN
Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer
FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986.
GK BARRY
GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: TikTok star
FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.
DEAN MCCULLOUGH
ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp
AGE: 32
OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ
FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.
Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.
JANE MOORE
Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: Journalist
FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.
She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.
Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.
MELVIN ODOOM
Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021
AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter
FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.
He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.
COLEEN ROONEY
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: WAG
FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.
ALAN HALSALL
Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street
AGE: 42
OCCUPATION: Actor
FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.
Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.
TULISA
Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year
AGE: 36
OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge
FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.
In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss.
She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.
