I'm A Celeb's Frankie Dettori's life from 30-year row with wife to famous child

04 December 2023 , 08:00

372     0

I'm A Celebrity star Frankie Dettori and his wife Catherine (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Beloved jockey Frankie Dettori made a surprise appearance in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! but just 12 days later, he became the first celebrity of the 2023 series to be voted out of the jungle.

It was announced in Sunday night's episode of the ITV reality series that Frankie alongside YouTuber Nella Rose received the fewest votes from the public and were therefore up for elimination. During his almost two-week stint Down Under, the dad-of-five became a team leader for a period, took on several trials, and won the camp a "breakfast of champions".

Frankie, who joined the show as a latecomer alongside boxing champion Tony Bellew, has spent 35 years at the top of his game in the horse racing industry. The 52-year-old, who has won the British flat racing Champion Jockey title three times and ridden the winners of an incredible 287 Group 1 races, could be set to be a fan favourite on the ITV reality show.

Although he is widely recognised for his outstanding career in horse racing, he is also known for his long-lasting marriage to his wife Catherine. The couple have five children together - Ella, Leo, Mia, Tallula, and Rocco, and have been locked in the same row for the past three decades.

There has been a long-standing argument between the couple, who have been married since 1997, with Frankie wanting to live in a flat and Catherine wanting animals and land. But finally, they came to an agreement, with their Newmarket mansion to be rented out for a staggering £15,000 a month. Frankie said: "I have spent all my life outside and in the countryside. I'd like to do something different."

TOWIE's Chloe Brockett makes cheeky dig at Saffron Lempriere during filming

The well-decorated jockey said he is looking forward to the anonymity that city life can bring. "You can pull your baseball cap down and walk around the Thames or South London, and kinda get lost and be recognised by no one… maybe it will have to be a balaclava!" he joked.

Do you think the right person left the jungle? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

But retirement is also on the horizon for Frankie after recently announcing his split from his agent of 36 years, Peter Burrell. It's expected that Kieran Shoemark will take over as John and Thady Gosden's No.1 rider when Dettori does eventually call it quits. He's already begun downsizing, selling off a lot of his trophies and memorabilia in a charity auction that raised over £75,000. The online auction list included items such as jockey scales, a saddle, boots, and photographs.

Some of that cash will go towards his daughter Ella's upcoming 2024 wedding. She is following in her father's footsteps and pursuing a career in horse racing. In July 2021, Ella made her debut in the charity Magnolia Cup race at Glorious Goodwood, impressively finishing in a dead heat. She spoke about the support she received from her family, including tips from her famous father.

She said: "Nobody told me racehorses go faster when you pull the reins. In eventing, it's the opposite. I found the riding position ridiculous. Standing out of the saddle, my legs were burning with exhaustion, but I slowly got the hang of it. I now understand why Dad has to stay so fit."

Ella's grandfather, Gianfranco, was also a successful jockey in Italy, making horse racing a true family affair. While she hasn't been seen racing since her debut, Ella has revealed that she's begun studying at Sheffield University.

Florence Freeman