Blame it on Rio! Stars targeted in prank show

Posted Thursday, October 08, 2015 by Dailystar.co.uk

WATCH out, there’s a new Jeremy Beadle about and he’s called Rio Ferdinand.

Blame it on Rio! Stars targeted in prank show
PRANKSTER: Rio pranked England players in the run up to the 2006 World Cup

TV producers want the former England star to host a new prank show and spring surprises on the world’s most famous footballers.

The gag show will accompany 2016’s European Championships for which England have already qualified.

It means former colleagues like Wayne Rooney, 29, will be looking nervously over their shoulders in case they get "punk’d” ahead of next summer.

Blame it on Rio! Stars targeted in prank show
TARGET: Wayne Rooney pranked by of Rio

Of course the Manchester United legend, 36, has form in the hidden camera telly department. He fronted cult show Rio’s World Cup Wind-Ups ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Rio would holler his catchphrase “you got merk’d” after pulling his pranks.

Who could forget a worried looking David Beckham running down the streets of Salford after his chauffeur took a strange detour?

Blame it on Rio! Stars targeted in prank show
CLARITY: The classic moment David Beckham find out he was pranked

Now ITV hope to persuade Rio and his box of wind-up gags to come back for more.

A source told me: “Rio has been approached about bringing back the series.

Blame it on Rio! Stars targeted in prank show
NEXT: Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling could be the next targets

Now his playing career is over he has more time on his hands and is interested in doing some more ‘merking’ next year.

"Next summer would be the perfect opportunity.” He’ll do well to top the classic moment Rooney welled up as a little lad’s mutt “died” during a trip to a dogs’ home with his wife Coleen.

There’s got to be plenty of comedy mileage in goalie Joe Hart, 28, and Raheem Sterling, 20. You had better watch out, because Rio’s about!