REVEREND RICHARD COLES

Barry McGuigan has revealed the reason why he got so far on I’m A Celebrity was because of his late daughter, Danika, as ‘she was always with me in there and I know I’ve made her proud’.

The former featherweight boxing champion, 63, was the seventh star voted out of the jungle alongside Love Island’s Maura Higgins, 33, in a shock double vote off.

But that wasn’t before he captured the nation’s heart when he opened up about his never-ending grief about losing his daughter aged 33 to colon cancer in 2019.

Speaking to MailOnline, Barry showed his detailed tattoo of Danika’s face, a tribute to her, and said: ‘She travels with me everywhere. 

‘It looks like she has a spot at the moment but that’s just because I have a rash from all those bloody cockroaches. I’m sure she would have been laughing about that.

‘But no, I know she watched the show regularly, I knew she was with me in there. I probably wouldn’t have got as far as I did without her being with me, I know that she travels with me everywhere. I believe that 100 percent, we will see each other again some time.’

Barry McGuigan has revealed the reason why he got so far on I’m A Celebrity was because of his late daughter, Danika, as ‘she was always with me in there and I know I’ve made her proud’

During his time in the jungle, the boxer spoke about the actress’ pᴀssing, who lost her battle with cancer in 2019 aged 33 (pictured in 2008)

Speaking about the bond he formed with McFly’s Danny Jones, Barry revealed they first met, the boxer thought ‘you belong with me’ and the frontman ‘cried his eyes out’ when he told him about Danika.

Becoming emotional, Barry said: ‘It’s the saddest thing that’s ever happened. I can’t explain how sad it’s been for me and my wife Sandra. I think about Nika all the time.

‘She was responsible for me getting into I’m A Celebrity, I just know she was because she loved the show. We watched it together every year.

‘I remember when Jill Scott won it, Nika had just died and I just thought Nika would have loved Jill.

‘Losing her five years ago is a heartbreak we will never get over.’

Barry captured the nation when he opened up about his grief on the second day in camp.

The boxer revealed Danika struggled with her health from a young age, after being diagnosed with leukaemia when she was just 11 years old.

Barry told the camp: ‘[Danika] had leukaemia, when I was making the boxing with Daniel Day Lewis.

Barry said he felt Danika’s presence in the jungle and was spurred on to do well in the trials to make her proud

Barry said: ‘She was responsible for me getting into I’m A Celebrity, I just know she was. When Jill Scott won it, Nika had just died and I thought Nika would have loved Jill’ (Jill pictured in 2022)

Barry captured the nation when he opened up about his grief on the second day in camp 

Fans dubbed the ’emotional’ moment the ‘most moving in I’m A Celeb history’ as all the campmates broke down in floods of tears while supporting Barry 

Danika, who worked as an actress, pᴀssed away surrounded by her ‘devastated’ family. The boxer revealed Danika struggled with her health from a young age (pictured in 1994)

Barry is pictured alongside his wife Sandra, one of his sons and his daughter Danika

Read More GMB fans accuse hosts of ‘setting a trap’ as I’m A Celeb’s Barry breaks down over his late daughter

‘Three weeks from the end I had to leave because she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia.

‘They thought she wasn’t going to get better but she fought back and she won it. She had two years of chemo.’

As he began to cry campmates gathered around with Danny Jones and Tulisa offering a hug, as Barry gushed: ‘Thank you, you’re all so lovely, I really appreciate it.’

Danika was posthumously awarded an IFTA for her role in Wildfire.

She had previously overcome leukemia as a child, but succumbed to a more aggressive form of cancer later in life.

On August 2, 2019, Barry shared an old pH๏τo of himself and his daughter, paying an emotional tribute to Danika.

He wrote: ‘The most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do was to say goodbye to my amazing daughter Nika earlier this week.

‘She has been a shining light in our family’s lives for the past 33 years.

‘Nika was an extremely talented and inspirational young lady who radiated kindness and love.

‘Our hearts are broken and we know that life will never be the same again for us.

‘However, Nika lives on in so many parts of our lives which we are grateful for.

‘I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who sent flowers, cards, Mᴀss cards, Instagram messages, Facebook, Twitter, texts and email messages of condolences and support.

‘There are simply too many to answer individually so I want to use this opportunity to say a huge thank you to each and every one of you, the family greatly appreciate them.’

The father-of-four lives in Kent with his wife and childhood sweetheart, Sandra Mealiff.

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 тιтles 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.  

REVEREND RICHARD COLES

Richard is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Writer, broadcaster and priest

FAMOUS FOR: Richard is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest. 

He first came to prominence as the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band the Communards.

 MAURA HIGGINS

Maura is best known for her stint on Love Island UK in 2019

 AGE: 33

OCCUPATION: TV Personality

FAMOUS FOR: Maura is an Irish television personality, television presenter and model. 

She rose to prominence in 2019, when she was a finalist on the fifth series of ITV2 reality series Love Island.