Former boxing champion Barry McGuigan has revealed ITV producers hauled him in for a discussion on how ‘best not to offend people’ before he appears on I’m A Celebrity.
The former featherweight title-winner, 63, shared his fears of saying something politically incorrect during his stint on the show which is watched by up to 12 million people.
Barry confessed: ‘I’ve just had a number of discussions this morning with the production people so that you do your best not to offend people.
‘So if I offend anybody, or if I say something wrong, I will ask them how they would like me to address them. And therefore I want to get it right, and I want to hear it from them.
‘So I’ll do my best to do that. But you know, am I going to put my hand on my heart and say I’ll go through potentially three weeks without saying something politically incorrect? No, I can’t say I’ll do that. But of course, that’s always a possibility.’
The revelation that ITV has been coaching contestants on political correctness comes after producers said they were pushing for a ‘positive’ year on I’m A Celebrity.
Barry McGuigan has revealed he’s been warned by ITV about ‘offending people’ ahead of his I’m A Celeb stint amid fears for the show’s political correctness
The former featherweight title-winner, 63, shared his fears of saying something politically incorrect during his stint on the show which is watched by up to 12 million people
Barry confessed: ‘I’ve just had a number of discussions this morning with the production people so that you do your best not to offend people’ (pictured fighting against WBA Champion Eusebio Pedroz in 1985)
Barry will be sharing a camp in the Australian jungle for up to three weeks with the likes of Gen Z social media star, GK Barry and Coleen Rooney.
Agreeing he would play ‘referee’ in the camp if a row broke out, the star added: ‘It’s simply impossible to be in a sort of pressurised environment like that for three weeks, potentially more than that, and not have falling outs.’
But he went on to share concerns about being ‘cancelled’ – a phenomenon when an individual is boycotted for being thought to have said something unacceptable.
The sportsman, who hails from Northern Ireland, said: ‘Political correctness changes every day.
‘And how you address people, how you address sexes and race and all of that, you have to be politically correct, especially when potentially 10 to 12 million people watch it.
‘So you know, it’s just trying to hurt people’s feelings. I don’t want to do that. So you do your level best to [make sure] that you’re politically correct.’
In 2020, Barry was involved in a multi-million-pound legal dispute over earnings with the Belfast boxer, Carl Frampton, who sued him and his boxing promotion firm, Cyclone Promotions, for alleged withheld earnings.
But Barry then counter-sued for an alleged breach of contract and the case was eventually settled out of court with the terms of their settlement not publicly disclosed.
He admitted: ‘I’ll do my best to do that. But you know, am I going to put my hand on my heart and say I’ll go through potentially three weeks without saying something politically incorrect? No, I can’t say I’ll do that’
Barry looked to be getting into the spirit of jungle already as he laughed along with his campmates while they met on the beach
In 2020, Barry was involved in a multi-million-pound legal dispute over earnings with the Belfast boxer, Carl Frampton (pictured in 2017)
Barry and his wife Sandra lost their daughter, Danika, in 2019 after a short but severe form of breast cancer, a month after she was diagnosed – an event Barry said he ‘will never get over’ (pictured with Sandra and Danika in 2011)
Both men denied the respective allegations against them.
Barry, his wife Sandra and their three sons were involved in the running of Cyclone Promotions Ltd while McGuigans Gym Ltd was run by the couple and their son Shane.
The father-of-three lost his daughter, Danika, in 2019 after a short but severe form of breast cancer, a month after she was diagnosed – an event Barry said he ‘will never get over’.
The Wildfire actress was just 33 when she died.
An event that also still ‘haunts’ the boxer to this day is when, in 1982, he accidentally killed the Nigerian boxer, Young Ali, after a fatal blow to the head.
Barry won by knockout in the sixth round at the World Sporting Club in London but his opponent did not regain consciousness and died after six months in a coma.
Considering hanging up his gloves after the incident, Barry said the trauma has had a devastating effect on him.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! starts this Sunday 17th November, on ITV1, STV and ITVX.
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.
