Wayne Rooney leads I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! line-up

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reports that former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is set to appear in the new series of ITV’s "I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!" Rooney is part of an 11-person line-up heading to the Australian jungle, alongside figures including Joanna Page, Sharky, Ricky Wilson, Ade Adepitan, Claire Sweeney and Mariella Frostrup. The show’s opening episode is scheduled for Monday, 16 November, with Ant and Dec returning as hosts.

According to the BBC, Rooney said he wants to follow up on his wife Coleen’s performance in the 2024 series, when she finished second. He also said his biggest fear is the helicopter jump into camp, and that he is uneasy about snakes and water. The report notes that Rooney has moved into football management and punditry since his playing career.

Adepitan’s inclusion is notable because he is set to become the first wheelchair user to take part in the programme. ITV is adapting the camp to make it accessible for him, and Adepitan said he felt overwhelmed by the prospect. The BBC also notes that the series is now in its 26th year and that the last edition was an all-star version filmed in South Africa. The programme remains one of ITV’s best-known reality formats, combining celebrity tasks and public voting with a long-running family audience.