Ex-Prem star snubbed record ‘I’m a Celeb’ offer; wanted £1m to enter jungle

Joey Barton reportedly snubbed a chance to become the highest paid I’m A Celebrity contestant in the show’s history – by rejecting £500,000 to enter the jungle.

Show bosses reportedly wanted the controversial 35-year-old as a potential camp-mate to shake things up with his controversial views.

However, he’s said to have rejected their £500,000 offer – instead demanding a huge £1million to take on the Australian jungle.

Barton, who is currently serving an 18-month ban for breaching gambling rules, was lined up when producers feared that boxer Amir Khan might pull out, according to the report in The Sun.

A source said: “Joey would be I’m A Celebrity gold. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind and very rarely walks away from a row.

“He would’ve been brilliant and producers have tried to get him before.

“But with him serving a ban, they thought they’d tempt him with a massive offer. It’s more than they’ve ever offered anyone before.”

The former Manchester City, Newcastle and Burnley star, who also won a solitary cap for England, has been working as a presenter on talkSPORT.