Former England and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney is reportedly in advanced talks to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, potentially following his wife Coleen Rooney into the Australian jungle.
The 40-year-old former striker is reportedly negotiating with ITV for the upcoming 2026 series. However, ITV has not confirmed that Rooney has signed a deal, saying that names being linked to the programme remain speculation.
If an agreement is reached, Rooney would be following in Coleen’s footsteps. She appeared on the reality show in 2024 and finished as runner-up, giving the Rooney family a direct connection to one of Britain’s most watched celebrity programmes.
Reports say Rooney became interested in taking part after watching Coleen’s experience. Sources cited by British media claim he has joked about trying to match her performance and wants to show their four sons how he would handle the show’s demanding Bushtucker Trials.
The reported discussions come at an interesting moment for the Rooney family. A new Disney+ series, The Real Rooneys, is also scheduled to premiere on Sept. 24, offering viewers an unusually close look at Wayne and Coleen’s family life, their four children and their careers.
Rooney remains one of the most recognisable names in English football. He became Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer before later returning to Everton and eventually moving into football management and punditry.
His potential appearance would also give I’m A Celebrity a major sporting name for its 2026 cast. Other personalities have been linked to the upcoming series, including former Little Mix member Jesy Nelson, Gavin & Stacey actress Joanna Page, Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson and former Paralympian Ade Adepitan. None of the reported names have been officially confirmed as contestants.
For Rooney, the challenge would be very different from anything he faced on a football pitch. Instead of stadiums, training grounds and tactical battles, he would face life in the Australian jungle, limited food and the programme’s notorious trials.
Coleen has reportedly already been giving her husband advice based on her own experience, while Rooney is said to be keen to take on the challenge.
But for now, the jungle appearance remains unconfirmed.
The bigger question is whether Rooney will actually swap the football spotlight for the Australian jungle — and find himself following Coleen into one of television’s most unpredictable challenges.
