Wayne Rooney has landed in Australia. The former England and Manchester United captain, 41, touched down at Brisbane Airport on Monday 9 November 2026 after a 21-hour flight from the UK — the first celebrity of this year’s line-up to arrive in Australia.
Rooney told reporters on arrival: “I’ve never been to Australia.” He follows his wife Coleen, who finished runner-up on the show in 2024. He arrived with his manager Paul Stretford, in a grey tracksuit.
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! series 26 returns on Monday 16 November 2026 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. The launch was pushed back a day because England play Spain in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday 15 November.
The reported line-up includes Rooney, Leigh Francis, Joanna Page, Leomie Anderson, AJ Odudu, Chloe Burrows, Sharky — Sharmarke Mohamud — Ricky Wilson, Mariella Frostrup, Claire Sweeney, Ade Adepitan and Jack Skipper. Sharky was the second star to land, Leomie Anderson the fourth and Claire Sweeney the fifth, on 10 November.
For the week before filming, the celebrities are kept in a secret luxury hotel with phones confiscated and no internet access or contact with the outside world, former campmates have revealed.
Rooney’s arrival sets the tone for the series: a genuine football icon, a first-timer in Australia, and a famous name following his wife into the jungle two years after her runner-up finish. How he handles the camp — and the critters — is now the question of the week.
It has been a big week for entertainment, from the ARIA Awards performers announcement to the giant pandas’ debut at Zoo Atlanta. Wayne Rooney landing in Brisbane adds one more headline — and the jungle opens on 16 November.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.