He is somewhat notorious for his bad boy behaviour during his lengthy stint as a premier league footballer.
But Keiron Dyer has revealed is hoping to alter the public’s perceptions of him when he appears in this year’s series of ITV reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Now happily married to partner Holly and a proud father of four, the 36-year-old sports star claims his controversial behaviour is very much a thing of the past.
Beginning his footballing career at the tender age of 18 at Ipswich Town, Kieron’s sporting ability eventually saw him snapped up by Newcastle United at 21 for £6 million, with the star admitting his accompanying fortune soon got the better of him.
‘I was earning fortunes having grown up in a poor background and you did end up in trouble. But you do mature, you learn from those errors. Now I’m in my thirties, I’m nothing like I was in my twenties, thank God,’ Kieron explained.
The Ipswich-born athlete has been embroiled in his fair share of controversy over the years having been involved in a sex tape and a speeding ban, as well as his infamous fight on the pitch against teammate Lee Bowyer at Newcastle.
But despite his tumultuous past, Kieron believes his settled lifestyle has made him a reformed man.
‘Fatherhood does change you, and just getting older and wiser. It’s a combination of everything – age, being a father, being a husband. I’ve been married a year now, things settle you down,’ he confessed to The Daily Mirror.
However, Kieron insists he isn’t entering the jungle in a bid to alter the public’s perceptions of him and is instead doing it ‘for my kids and for charity’.
‘When I told my kids I had the chance to do it, I think they want to see daddy embarrass himself on telly, going to do the trials.’
Kieran is donating a fee for the ITV show to the Jude Brady Foundation, which helps families coping with stillbirth and raises awareness of neonatal death.
Occupation: Former England football star
Age: 36
Phobias: I don’t like spiders or snakes but there is no way I am going to look a wuss on the trials!
Biggest misconception you want to dispel in the Jungle: I’d like to change people’s perceptions about footballers in general but I know my family and friends know the real me – and that is what matters
Role in the Camp: Definitely not the chef! I’d like to provide banter to keep us all amused
Miss most: Aside from my wife and kids, my mobile phone and not being able to have any control over decisions I make
Dream Campmate: Brian May and Kim Kardashian
Celebrities enter the Jungle for many a reason. For former England footballer Kieron, it was to earn some serious dad-points.
“I’m A Celebrity… is a favourite in our house,” says Kieron. “I watch it with my children and they wanted me to do it. They begged me to go on!”
It wasn’t just his kids pushing him into it though – he’s also doing it for charity, donating his entire fee to the Jude Brady Foundation. But Kieron’s up for having a laugh whilst doing some good, with his eye firmly on the role of Camp clown: “I like to stir things up and I am a mickey taker,” he says. “I will amuse myself and have a banter with everyone.” Let’s hope they’re actually in the mood for some laughter…
