My wife isn’t too worried... it’s not Love Island, just Ann Widdecombe
John Barnes on Celebrity Big Brother
FOOTBALLING legend John Barnes has revealed that his wife backs him entering the Celebrity Big Brother house – because he will be mixing with Ann Widdecombe rather than bikini-clad Love Island babes.
The former Liverpool and England ace, 54, will be the first man being parachuted into the currently all-female house on tonight’s show.
He said of second wife Andrea: “She is very supportive and was fine with it when I asked her. It’s not like it’s a Love Island situation, which she wouldn’t have been happy with me doing.
“This is very different. Instead I am going to buddy up with Ann and have a lot of interesting debate.”
Barnes has seven children – four from his first marriage to wife Suzy, whom he later divorced, and three with Andrea.
Now the ex-professional sportsman is looking forward to using his stint in the Channel 5 show to lose a “stone and a half ” after piling on the pounds. Barnes said: “I am carrying a bit of holiday weight right now. In fact, I have been on holiday for a couple of years.
“And I haven’t been on a diet ahead of going in the house. It’s Christmas, so of course I have eaten a lot. I won’t win body of the year. I don’t go to the gym much. I am going to use this opportunity to lose a bit of weight.”
The pundit became known for his rapping skills in the 1980s and 1990s in addition to his midfield artistry.
He famously rapped on New Order hit World In Motion, which was released for the 1990 World Cup.
And Barnes said he was definitely up for impressing the house when asked to entertain. “Whenever I am asked to do it, I will do it,” he says. “My ego isn’t such that I won’t make a fool of myself or get dressed up. I am not a diva.” As well as Tory Widdecombe, the footie star is joining former Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie, reality TV celeb Jess Impiazzi, ex-Made In Chelsea star Ashley James, newsreader India Willough by, former detective constable Maggie Oliver, novelist and journalist Rachel Johnson, plus Malika Haqq, the best friend of Khloe Kardashian and a series regular on the family’s hit US series. Barnes said he would like to use his time on the show as a platform to shine a light on racism, which he suffered as a player, as well as sexism and homophobia in society. Asked about Liverpool’s young player Rhian Brewster, who has stated he suffered racism, including while on England duty abroad, the older man said the UK still has a “long way to go”.
He went on: “We think it’s a problem in Russia because Rhian Brewster gets abused – look what goes on in this country. How many black captains of industry or black journalists are there? I call it unconscious racism.
“It might not be overt as people are not screaming it out. But it goes on and is a big issue we have to contend with.”
He added: “I haven’t suffered racism recently as I am John Barnes, the footballer. Obama doesn’t, Beyoncé doesn’t.
“We don’t need to change people’s opinions of us. If I was John Barnes the milkman, I would have experienced it.
“I am under no illusions. It’s the normal black person walking down the street. Just passing laws saying you are not allowed to be racist won’t work. You need an educational system in place.”