I’M A CELEBRITY…GET ME OUT OF HERE 2018 WINNER and legendary football manager Harry Redknapp is coming to Cardiff for one night only!
Harry shares fascinating insights and hilarious anecdotes of his experiences Down Under and from the dug-out at St David’s Hall on Wednesday 29 May.
VIP packages are available to meet the man himself for a photo, and there’s the opportunity to ask Harry a question in the audience Q&A.
Last year, Harry captured the hearts of the nation to be crowned the ‘King of the Jungle’ by defeating Torchwood actor John Barrowman and Inbetweeners star Emily Atack in the live ITV final.
Yet, it is in football that Harry has established himself as a national treasure. After a playing career with Bournemouth and West Ham United amongst others, Harry then managed both teams throughout the 80s and 90s with the latter becoming one of the flair teams of the Premier League. Harry would go onto greater success with Portsmouth where he won the FA Cup in 2008, and then guided Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League whilst nurturing the explosive talent of Gareth Bale.
As father to Jamie Redknapp and uncle to Frank Lampard, he remains a familiar face and popular pundit in football. We caught up with the one and only Harry Redknapp to have a quick chat about his incredible career and his first ever theatre tour…
Harry Redknapp comes to Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on May 29, 2019.
How are you feeling ahead of the shows?
I’m looking forward to it, but also slightly nervous which is apparently a good thing because it will keep me on my toes! I’ve never really done theatre before, but (the compere) Terry Baker has done hundreds of shows and he assures me my type of humour and honesty will be appreciated. I’ve got (the comedian) Noel Brodie asking the questions. I first saw him in panto with Rita Simons from I’m A Celebrity when I came out of the jungle and I thought he was terrific, so I’m in good hands!
What will you be talking about onstage?
Anything and everything! Obviously, there’s now a new audience who now know of me from the jungle – that was a great experience and provides plenty to talk about. Right now there is a lot of interest being shown in the recent Harry’s Heroes show. That was great fun to make and full of characters to talk about.
Then there’s the greats I played with at West Ham – Bobby Moore, Jimmy Greaves, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and all the others and from my time playing in the USA. I also was a manager at Premier League level for many years along with my time in the lower divisions and my first taste of management at Bournemouth. There’s loads of laughs from those days.
Isn’t managing a serious business though?
It is and it’s quite lonely being a manager because the buck stops with you. Being in the jungle made me laugh again more than I remember laughing for years. The stories about players from my management days are very funny now. But like a lot of things, they weren’t necessarily funny at the time they happened. The main thing is that onstage we have fun. The audience will hopefully enjoy it then as well.
The country was captivated when you spoke about your 50+ years with your wife, Sandra. Many people voted for you from that day on…that and for Roly Poly Pudding!
As I always say, I won the Lottery the day I met Sandra and she has been the only person for me from day one. Jamie and Mark, my sons, always say “Dad, you hit the jackpot there!” As for Roly Poly Pudding, I do love it but since leaving the jungle and attending events around the country, it feels like I’ve eaten my weight in it! I’ve a joke about that in the show, but I won’t repeat it here and spoil the laughs.
Who are some of the people you’ll speak about?
Come to the shows and see! But expect all of the characters I managed from Paolo Di Canio and Paul Merson to Paulo Futre and Nwankwo Kanu. There’s some true, but very funny incidents over the years. I’m looking forward to meeting people as well and the banter on the road with my touring companions Terry, Freda and Nick from A1. The only downside is the hours on the motorways, which I thought I’d left behind me when I finished managing.
Lastly, do you miss football?
Yes, and I always will. I talk about it all the time, appear on BT Sport, and watch games all the time. I’m madly busy as well though, so there’s no time to miss it. I’ve only ever known football all of my life. Along with racing and my family, it has consumed all of my time and all of my interest. On this tour it’s what we’ll talk about and according to the people around me, it will make people laugh and consume them as well. Time will tell!
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To book your seats, please visit www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or call the Box Office on 029 2087 8444
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If you love I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! then you’re in for a double treat as fellow finalist, John Barrowman is coming to St David’s Hall on Tuesday 2 July and Wednesday 3 May – limited tickets remaining!