Premier League referee Mike Dean is a huge favourite to make incredible ‘I’m A Celebrity’ appearance

Mike Dean’s chances of making a sensational appearance on reality TV have been slashed amid reports he is set to quit on-field refereeing at the end of the season.

Reports in the Telegraph on Monday claimed Dean, 53, is in negotiations to hang up his boots and move into the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) booth ahead of the 2022-23 season.  

The Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) refused to be drawn on Dean’s potential move to VAR when approached by Sportsmail. 

But Dean is now a huge favourite at just 2/1 to make an appearance on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ in odds released by Ladbrokes.

It is reported Dean – who has accrued a wealth of experience at the top of English football having been operating in the Premier League since 2000 – will be put up for the Bushtucker Trials on the show, which returns to Australia from Wales later this year.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes told The Daily Star: ‘With Mike Dean seemingly set to call it a day on the refereeing front, we wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest to see I’m A Celebrity chiefs snap up the one man in football fans love to hate.

‘And were he to head Down Under later this year, you can expect to see records broken for number of Bushtucker Trials voted for, in an epic act of supporter revenge.’

Mike Dean’s chances of making a sensational appearance on reality TV have been slashed

The official is a huge favourite on the Bushtucker Trials on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here

Dean has become one of the most recognisable officials in English football and holds the title for the most red cards awarded – 114 – in Premier League history.

It has been reported that the Tranmere Rovers fan was looking to move away from on-field officiating last season, only to be convinced to stay on and help nurture the next generation of referees.

Currently only Lee Mason, who himself stepped down from on-field officiating in the Premier League last season, has a full-time VAR role.

Along with Dean, PGMOL are facing a changing of the guard in the next few years with experienced officials Andre Marriner, Martin Atkinson, Kevin Friend, Jon Moss and Graham Scott all over the age of 50.  

He is set to move into the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) booth ahead of the 2022-23 season

Dean is the Premier League’s current longest-serving referee and from the most recent round of matches he has wracked up 553 matches.  

He has overseen some of English football’s biggest matches, including two FA Cup finals, and has been popularised on social media by fans for his no-nonsense style with players. 

Dean also helped out his beloved Tranmere last year, stepping in as an emergency fourth official in a match against Walsall.

He initially went to Prenton Park as a supporter but rushed down from the stands after an assistant was forced to leave the field after sustaining an injury. 

Dean has been popularised on social media by fans for his no-nonsense style with players

Speaking in a rare interview to the Peter Crouch Podcast in February 2020, Dean discussed the ‘confidence’ and ‘arrogance’ he has in his ability as a Premier League referee.

‘There’s a touch of arrogance about me when I walk out on the pitch, I know there is. But there’s also a lot of confidence in myself because I believe in my own abilities,’ he said.

‘Because of the way I referee, if the ball comes towards me I won’t jump out the way, I’ll let it go between my legs. That’s just how it is. 

‘I love a stepover… I do. You just do it, I love the job I do and with the way I referee it comes out that I enjoy what I do.’