Ten athletes who appeared in reality TV

Reality bites as these 10 sports personalities swap the locker room for the green room.

FADE STREET – THE national broadcaster’s answer to The Hills and The City – airs for the first time tonight, in a new high watermark for reality TV.

Set your Sky Box to ‘fabulous’ as the show goes out at 9pm – but to while away the intervening hours, here’s 10 sports personalities who also took the plunge into reality television.

Ten athletes who appeared in reality TV

Previous 1 / 10Next

Ron Atkinson
This is a good one: The former Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson - who was sacked from his ITV pundit's job because of a racist remark - and his wife swapped partners with former British javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson for Celebrity Wife Swap. They ultimately fell out when Tess pressed Ron on those n-word comments, predictably.
Barry McGuigan
Not only has the Clones Cyclone won the WBA Featherweight title and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, but can also add the Hell's Kitchen winner's trophy to his sideboard. McGuigan also appeared on Fáilte Towers and was a mentor on Charity Lords of the Rings.
Denis Rodman
Let's be honest, Rodman was probably best known for wearing a wedding dress, ridiculous hairstyles and sleeping with Madonna. But Dennis Rodman also played basketball. After the lights dimmed on his Chicago Bulls career however, he was lured into the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2006, where he struck up a bizarre rapport with Channel 4 Racing's troll John McCririck.
John Aldridge
Aldridge topped the public vote in Celebrity You're a Star on RTÉ after his performances of 'Lily the Pink' - later released as a charity single - and 'Ring of Fire' in the live final. Stick to the novelty penos, Aldo.
Lee Sharpe
When making important life-decisions, I almost always ask myself 'What would Sharpie do?' Perhaps though taking part in Celebrity Love Island was a mis-step from the former Manchester United winger. Sharpe did return with new girlfriend Abi Titmuss, left, however. Presumably after demonstrating his corner-flag shuffle.Source: UL Press
Nigel Benn
The Dark Destroyer was the first sports personality to enter the jungle on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Benn finished seventh out of a possible eight - only outdone by paranormalist oddball Uri Geller.
Jack Sheedy
The teak-tough, former Dublin footballer appeared in RTÉ's Charity Lords of the Ring. One of the older contestants with the likes of Ray Shah and Alan Shortt, he was forced to pull out through injury - but not before raising €9,850 for the Barrettstown Gang Camp Fund.Source: INPHO/James Crombie
Reggie Bush
The New Orleans running back dated the star of Keeping up the Kardashians - several times. As he flitted in and out of the reality star's life, he walked onto the set of one of America's most popular TV shows. They ultimately split because of 'maturity differences'.Source: Bill Haber/AP/Press Association Images
Hulk Hogan
This one ain't pretty. The wrestling icon accepted an offer from VHI to star in Hogan Knows Best in order to promote pop-wannabe daughter Brooke and pay lawyers bills. It was a hit but Hogan ended up in the divorce courts and the show was canceled. Brooke earned her own show however, so swings and roundabouts, eh?
Martina Hingis
'The Swiss Miss' was a highly-successful tennis starlet but was probably the least successful athlete on the BBC's Strictly come Dancing. The former Wimbledon champion was voted out in the first week after she was beaten in a dance-off by Rav Wilding (the presenter of Crimewatch, apparently). Straight sets.Source: EMPICS Sport/EMPICS Sport