ITV I'm A Celebrity Coleen Rooney shares 'struggle' after heartbreaking family loss

Coleen Rooney has opened up on her family's struggles after a heartbreaking loss. The 38-year-old appeared on the latest episode of Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast for a wide-ranging chat on her life and career.

Coleen spoke about how she was shaped by her childhood in Croxteth, which taught her the importance of family and perspective. She opened up difficult moments from her past, including the death of her sister, Rosie McLoughlin.

Coleen's younger sister died aged 14 in 2013 after a lifelong battle with rare brain disorder, Rett syndrome, which causes severe disabilities. In the interview with Fearne, Coleen spoke about how the family adopted Rosie after they initially fostered her aged 2 and "fell in love with her".

Coleen opened up on the impact of the heartbreaking loss as she said Rosie's diagnosis prepared the family for the worst, but her death still had a devastating impact. She said: "[The diagnosis] prepares you in a way.

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"She had bad stints before that where she'd been in hospital. But she battled through it and she came out. A number of Christmases we spent in hospital. Her immune system went down in winter, she got chest infections.

"It was a hard family situation because you don't want to spend your Christmas in hospital but we done anything for her. No matter what, we were there.

"Knowing doesn't take away the pain but it can help prepare yourself in a way that you know it's going to happen. It's going to happen to everyone, but at that early age it was hard to accept"

Coleen said her parents tried to stay strong after Rosie's passing, but the whole family were heartbroken after the sad death. On how her parents coped, she added: "They struggled.

"They've always out a brave face on for everyone else, but the amount of times, I've heard them crying going to bed at night and it's not nice to hear. But that's when they're releasing their sorrows. They did have bereavement counselling and that was all through the hospice they went through. She added: "It's hard to lose anyone, but a child, that's even harder."

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Coleen appeared on the show amid amid rumours she is competing on I'm A Celebrity. The latest season of TV's toughest entertainment challenge gets underway on ITV this Sunday.

She is tipped to be one of the celebrities travelling Down Under to take part. Coleen appeared to confirm the rumours today as she was spotted at Manchester Airport ahead of a flight to Australia.

Coleen was seen at the Emirates First Class Platinum check-in desk ahead of her flight. Coleen is expected to join a number of stars in the Australian Camp for next season of the ITV show, which will once again be hosted by Ant & Dec.

Former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos was the latest celebrity to arrive in Australia ahead of the launch of the new season. The 36-year-old, who is best known as a member of N-Dubz, was spotted at Brisbane Airport on Sunday, November 10.

The singer-songwriter arrived in a mask in an apparent attempt to hide her identity and is thought to be launching a comeback on the show. She was seen wearing a grey hoodie and matching pants, as well as a baseball cap, the Mirror Online reports.

She refused to comment on the ITV show upon her arrival saying only: "Is there a McDonalds around here?" She then teased that wanted a Big Mac and got into a waiting car still wearing her hood up and with a mask on.

It comes following the arrival of musician Danny Jones, 38, earlier on Sunday. The McFly member became the first celebrity to land at the airport, with him having flown in from London. He was seen sporting an Oasis t-shirt, dark trousers and a pair of white shoes as he walked through the airport.

Teasing over his motivation for the trip, Danny, who was spotted with a guitar among his luggage, said: "The McFly boys don't know it [but] I'm here to do a solo album." He went on to share that he has some experience with camping.

As previously reported, Danny, whose bandmate Dougie Poynter won I'm A Celebrity back in 2011, shared that he had a "hairy" flight after his plane delayed landing because of a thunderstorm. Once he did arrive though, he bumped into spin-off show Unpacked's hosts Sam Thompson and Joel Dommett in the airport.

Coronation Street cast member Alan Halsall, 42, later arrived at the airport himself. The actor, who has played Tyrone Dobbs on the soap opera since 1998, was photographed in a dark t-shirt and trousers, and trainers, after his flight.

Alan teased following his arrival: "I'm just here to play golf. It's a long way to come but I am an avid fan of...golf." He added; "Camping? Camping has got nothing to do with it, I am not going to be camping on the golf course!"

The National Television Awards winner is close pals with his Corrie colleague Andy Whyment, who was runner-up on I'm A Celebrity in 2019. Asked if he had taken any advice about Australia from him, Alan grinned and said: "I wouldn't take any advice from Andy Whyment about anything."