Kyren Wilson is the reigning world champion. (Image: Getty)
It’s not uncommon for a former sporting favourite to appear on a reality show well after their career is over, but it seems that snooker star is keen to be on one during the prime of his. The reigning world champion takes on Stephen Maguire in the first round of the on Monday, where he is bidding to go all the way at the Triple Crown event for the first time.
Although Wilson, the current world No.2, knows exactly what he’d want to be doing if he wasn’t competing in York.
The popular ITV series is currently airing on ITV, with the likes of boxing great Barry McGuigan and Coleen Rooney – wife of ex- captain – having ventured into the jungle.
And now Wilson, 32, has admitted to having his own ambition to enter the Australian outback in Murwillumbah, New South Wales. In fact, he’s even discussed the prospect of three weeks Down Under with his wife.
“I’d love a stint in the Jungle,” he told . “It’s quite funny actually. I’m a big fan of the show and I was watching it with my wife, and it was the episode where their families were giving them a luxury item each…Sophie said she would give me a game of UNO.”
The timing of the show does not fall kindly for professional players though. It takes place each year at around the same time as the tournament at the York Barbican, but that’s seemingly not the only issue ‘The Warrior’ would have to confront.
Steve Davis has previously appeared on the show. (Image: Getty)
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“The only problem for me is the UK Championship will always take priority,” he added. “I always like testing myself, so I’d definitely give it a go. I’ve sky-dived from 13,000 feet before so I’ve ticked that one off. But I think fear wise it would be spiders, I’m not a fan of spiders.”
Two snooker greats have previously taken taken part in the show, Jimmy White in 2009 and Steve Davis in 2013. ‘The Whirlwind’ made it to the final day, finishing in third place, while four years later Davis was the fifth person to be voted out.
Wilson is not the only current star who has stated his desire to follow in their footsteps though. Back in 2022, current world No.1 echoed similar sentiments, and also shared the same drawback with the animals involved.
“I’m a Celebrity is the real big one,” he told Eurosport. “Never say never to that one, it’s one that I would probably want to give a go but I absolutely hate any creepy-crawly things, spiders and snakes. So I would struggle with the challenges.”
Sporting figures to have been crowned the ‘King or Queen’ of the jungle include cricketer Phil Tufnell, motorcycling icon Carl Fogarty, football manager Harry Redknapp and ex-Lioness Jill Scott. The former England international was the last of the quartet to prevail, winning in 2022.