Frankie Dettori has reportedly told his friends his greatest concern about starring in the upcoming series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The jockey, 52, has been tipped to be heading straight to Australia to munch on some creepy crawlies and challenge himself in some terrifying challenges in the jungle after his retirement.
It has been reported that the sportsman is keen to star in the ITV show, but isn’t as worried about the bugs or trials as he is about his appearance.
Speaking to The Sun, a source revealed: ‘Frankie is excited for the jungle but is just worried about who will do his hair while he is there!’
It comes after Frankie secured victory in both the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot and the Champion Stakes in his last ride in the UK.
Worried: Frankie Dettori has reportedly told his friends his greatest concern about starring in the upcoming series of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! (pictured Saturday)
Rumoured: The jockey, 52, has been tipped to be heading straight to Australia to munch on some creepy crawlies and challenge himself in some terrifying challenges in the jungle after his retirement (pictured Saturday)
Biggest concern: It has been reported that the sportsman is keen to star in the ITV show, but isn’t as worried about the bugs or trials as he is about his appearance (pictured this month)
And he threw a huge celebration dinner after he hung up his whip up for good and rode his last ever race in Britain.
The three-time champion jockey – who has a 35-year riding career – hosted the star-studded bash at Grosvenor House in London.
He was joined by guests such as Clare Balding, Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall and Ronan Keating, with both Mick and Ronan performing.
Frankie, who announced his retirement from horse racing after 35 years in December last year, was reported to be joining I’m A Celeb last month.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘Frankie is a superstar signing for jungle casting producers as he is a legend in the horse racing world and would be reality TV gold.
‘He might be pint-sized, but his personality is larger than life and he has real charm and a sense of humour.
‘Frankie would be brilliant in the Bushtucker Trials too as being competitive is second nature to him. He’s got a wealth of stories he could tell around the campfire too to keep other campmates entertained.
‘Plus, as a jockey, he’s had to keep his weight down his whole life so he can help coach the other starving contestants surviving on rice and beans.’
Incredible: It comes after Frankie secured victory in both the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot and the Champion Stakes in his last ride in the UK (pictured Saturday)
Retirement party: And he threw a huge celebration dinner after he hung up his whip up for good and rode his last ever race in Britain (pictured on the night with Ronan Keating)
Entertainment: He was joined by guests such as Clare Balding , Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall and Ronan Keating , with both Mick and Ronan performing
Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Frankie’s penultimate horse racing event is the Melbourne Cup in Australia on November 7, with the reality show set to start a week later.
Frankie had dropped hints his days in the Weighing Room were coming to an end but he made his retirement announcement official two days after his 52nd birthday in December last year.
He said: ‘It has been a very difficult decision because my heart wants to carry on riding but I have to use my brain even though I haven’t got much of it!
‘I have just turned 52. I want to stop at the top and be competitive enough to do myself, my owners and my horses justice. You have to face reality. I am not as good as I was when I was 35. As you get older, you are not as supple or as strong.
‘I want to finish with my best powers. I think I am still good enough to compete with the best at the moment. I feel like I am at the top at the moment but well past my sell-by date!
#Look at (Cristiano) Ronaldo, he was playing one minute and on the bench the next. I don’t want to end up like that where I am struggling to get rides in big races.’
Frankie, who made the announcement on ITV Racing, admitted his final lap of the racing circuit will be emotional.
He added: ‘The Weighing Room is a capsule that it timeless – you never feel old. But the reality is I am old, I have to give up.
‘It will be exciting but torture saying farewell to what has been 35 years of my life. But I have made the decision and am sticking to it. I am trying to look at it in a positive way and make it a celebration.’
Rumble in the jungle: Frankie, who announced his retirement from horse racing after 35 years in December last year, was reported to be joining I’m A Celeb last month (pictured in 2021)
New chapter: The jockey announced his retirement from horse racing after 35 years in December last year (pictured in August)
