Scrum on into BB house
TV bosses keen to sign rugby ace James
JAMES Haskell is being urged to scrum on down and sign for Celebrity Big Brother.
The rebooted show is due to start on ITV in March, and bosses are keen for the ex-england rugby star, 38, to appear.
If a deal goes through, James – who split from wife Chloe Madeley last year – could be rubbing shoulders with the Princess of Wales’ uncle, businessman Gary Goldsmith.
The brother of Kate’s mum is understood to have promised no subject would be off limits if he entered the CBB house. James is said to have already met the casting team and is in advanced talks to get on board. A source said: “James has brilliant potential as a housemate. He’s a great character and is incredibly likeable. “He’s also single after splitting from Chloe, and he was really open about that in his meeting. “Bosses think that openness would be fantastic for the show, and people would really warm to him. But he is also not afraid to call a spade a spade and will speak his mind, which was another characteristic that really appealed to the bookers.”
Chloe, 36, daughter of daytime TV legends Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, has one-year-old daughter, Bodhi, with James.
In September, the couple announced they were splitting after five years of marriage.
This week, Chloe revealed she expected the former I’m A Celeb star to move out of their home “in the next few weeks”.
It came after James, who is now a DJ, was spotted getting close to a mystery woman at London celeb haunt Gilgamesh.
Bosses of the first CBB series since the reboot are said to be pulling out all the stops to secure an amazing line-up.
The source said: “There are some really massive names in the mix. If they all come off, it will be unmissable TV.” A Big Brother spokeswoman said last night: “All names are purely speculation at this stage.”