French football star David Ginola ‘signs up for I’m A Celeb’

French football star David Ginola has reportedly signed up for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.

The former Newcastle United player, 54, will be heading to Gwrych Castle in north Wales for series 21 which starts on November 21, according to The Sun. 

The publication claims that David has moved into a cottage in Anglesey – close to where the ITV show is filmed in Abergele – to isolate ahead of the highly-anticipated launch.

It comes five years after he nearly died from a heart attract while playing in a charity football match and was saved during an emergency surgery. 

Exciting! French football star David Ginola has reportedly signed up for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here

A source told the publication: ‘Signing up David is a real coup for the show, and he’s by far the biggest name going into the castle.

‘He’s also an unexpected addition, as all the speculation tends to revolve around what British celebrities are likely to be on the show.

‘But producers always tend to select a veteran sports star for the line up every year, especially one with a high profile like David unquestionably has.’

Star: The former Newcastle United player, 54, will be heading to Gwrych Castle in north Wales for series 21 which starts on November 21, according to The Sun (pictured are hosts Ant and Dec)

Safety: The publication claims that David has moved into a cottage in Anglesey – close to where the ITV show is filmed in Abergele – to isolate ahead of the highly-anticipated launch (Gwrych Castle is pictured)

A representative for David and I’m A Celeb have been contacted by MailOnline for a comment.   

David is a French former professional footballer who has also worked as an actor, model and football pundit. 

A former forward, he played football for ten seasons in France before moving from Paris Saint-Germain to Newcastle United in the English Premier League in July 1995. 

Sports: A former forward, he played football for ten seasons in France before moving from Paris Saint-Germain to Newcastle United in the English Premier League in July 1995 (pictured in 1995)

David suffered a devastating heart attack while playing in a charity football match in France in May 2016, which he revealed left him ‘clinically dead’ for nine minutes.

He collapsed during the match, swallowed his tongue and had stopped breathing before he was revived by paramedics, who had arrived with a defibrillator. 

He needed to be shocked four times before being airlifted to a hospital in Monaco, where he endured a six-hour quadruple bypass operation to clear his blocked arteries.

David appeared on This Morning in November 2018 to speak about the shortage of people who know first aid, with CPR playing a pivotal role in saving his life.

He said of the terrifying event: ‘I was just playing football, and I just collapsed. There’s no warnings or alarms, no pain. I just collapsed. It’s very strange as when you wake up, you don’t feel any pain, so you ask yourself: Why are you here?’ 

Stressing the importance of first aid, he continued: ‘Someone on the pitch was able to perform CPR. There were probably 15 people there, and only one or two could do CPR.’

‘That’s when I realised something was wrong, only two people knew how to perform CPR?’

Having his say: David appeared on This Morning in November 2018 to speak about the shortage of people who know first aid, with CPR playing a pivotal role in saving his life

Professional: David is a French former professional footballer who has also worked as an actor, model and football pundit (pictured during a legends match with Spurs in 2019)

Speaking about the risks hereditary health issues pose, David explained: ‘My mum died in 2005 from a heart attack. My dad had many problems with his heart. I heard that it was hereditary.’  

David is dating Maëva Denat, 29, and the pair share a daughter, two.  

The couple confirmed their romance in June 2016, just weeks after he suffered the heart attack and three months after announcing his separation from wife of 25 years, Coraline. 

Exes: David announced his separation from his wife of 25 years Coraline (pictured together) in 2016

Family: David is now dating Maëva Denat, 29, and the pair share a daughter, two (pictured together)

As well as their two-year-old daughter, Maeva also has a young daughter from a previous relationship, while David is father to son Andrea, 27 and daughter Carla, 23 from his marriage to Coraline.  

Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that I’m A Celebrity’s 2021 start date is Sunday November 21.  

Hosts Ant and Dec are set to welcome a new batch of stars to Gwrych Castle in a number of days, with the show taking place in Wales for the second year running in light of the pandemic.

Cute: As well as their two-year-old daughter (pictured), Maeva also has a young daughter from a previous relationship, while David is father to son Andrea, 27 and daughter Carla, 23 from his marriage to Coraline

Celebrities tipped to head into the Grade I listed 19th-century country house include Adam Woodyatt, Richard Madeley, Arlene Phillips and Frankie Bridge.

Other famous names reported to be in the running are Gogglebox’s Tom Malone Jr, Line Of Duty star Vicky McClure, Chaser Jenny Ryan, ex-Corrie star Lucy Fallon and Katie Price’s ex-husband Kieran Hayler.

The castle in picturesque Conwy County will play host to the long-running ITV show for the second consecutive year due to travel restrictions surrounding its usual home on Australia’s east coast, currently in the midst of another lockdown.  

Yay! Celebrities tipped to head into the Grade I listed 19th-century country house include Adam Woodyatt (left), Richard Madeley (right), Arlene Phillips and Frankie Bridge

Plans: Other famous names reported to be in the running are Gogglebox’s Tom Malone Jr, Line Of Duty star Vicky McClure and Frankie Bridge (pictured)