Wayne Rooney is close to agreeing to join the I’m A Celebrity 2026 cast.
Great news! Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United and England legend, is reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ to join the 2026 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here. If he signs up, he’ll be one of the biggest names ever to live in the jungle on the ITV show, which will be filmed in Australia again this winter.
Rooney’s wife, Coleen, took part in the 2024 series and finished as runner-up to McFly’s Danny Jones. They haven’t announced this year’s campmates yet, but The Sun says insiders reveal Wayne is eager to take on the famous Bushtucker Trials — especially to impress his four sons.
A source told them, “Wayne is in advanced talks for I’m A Celebrity and if they get him, he’ll be their biggest signing in the show’s history. Coleen was really popular two years ago, and the producers think Wayne will do just as well.”
Fans have expected Rooney to join I’m A Celebrity ever since he retired from football in 2021, even though he’s been busy with coaching jobs. He managed Birmingham City in 2023 and Plymouth during the 2024 show, the same year Coleen was in the jungle. He even sent her a good luck video with their sons, Kai and Klay, before the final. Coleen got 44.79% of the votes but just missed out on winning.
Wayne is now a TV pundit, often appearing on BBC shows like Match of the Day. He mentioned last year that he’d love to join the jungle but hasn’t had the chance due to other work.
Football stars have a history on the show too. John Fashanu was runner-up back in 2003, and players like Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock, Rodney Marsh, Jimmy Bullard, and Wayne Bridge have all taken part over the years. Harry Redknapp even won in 2018, making him the first football manager to be crowned King of the Jungle. He came back for the special South Africa series earlier this year.
Other football legends who’ve appeared include David Ginola, who finished fourth in 2021, and Jill Scott, who won in 2022. Alex Scott, another football star turned TV presenter, joined the jungle in 2025.
Looks like Wayne Rooney could be the next big jungle star!