I'm A Celebrity 2026 cast revealed as 11 contestants head to jungle

ITV has unveiled the official line-up for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 2026, with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly returning to the Australian jungle to host a cast of 11 famous faces. The contestants will face grim challenges and stomach-churning trials to secure food while competing to be named King or Queen of the jungle.

Returning Champions and New Arrivals

Last year's winner was Angry Ginge, joining previous champions including Danny Jones, Sam Thompson, Jill Scott, and the programme's inaugural winner, Tony Blackburn, in 2002. Now, Wayne Rooney and YouTuber Sharky have touched down in Australia, with ITV releasing a first glimpse of all participants in their jungle gear.

Notably absent from the confirmed line-up is Keith Lemon star Leigh Francis, who was speculated to be appearing, suggesting a potential late entrance. Ant and Dec had previously expressed their wish to see the comic in the jungle, stating: "If we got Leigh Francis in the jungle . . . and we had to stand by and watch him do a trial, let's try and make that happen."

Contestant Highlights

Wayne Rooney was the first star to arrive, following his wife Coleen, who finished as runner-up in the 2024 series. He played coy over his reasons for being at Brisbane Airport, saying: "I've never been to Australia."

YouTuber Sharky, whose real name is Sharmarke Mohamud, rose to fame in 2015 when he launched his YouTube channel. He is now known as part of Beta Squad alongside Chunkz, AJ Shabeel, and The Celebrity Traitors stars Niko Omilana and King Kenny. Asked about his presence in Australia, he quipped: "I'm actually joining the Socceroos (the Australian Men's national team). I've been called up for the national team for the international break." He added: "I actually did my DNA test the other day, and I found out I'm 2% Australian, so the manager called me up."

Former Paralympian wheelchair basketball player and TV presenter Ade Adepitan is making history as the show's first wheelchair user. At the airport, he joked: "I am here to advise on the 2027 Australian tapdancing festival. I am here to dance." He later said: "For me, this is a moment in time. Even if I go out in the first week, I will always be remembered as the person in a wheelchair. I am slightly overwhelmed. It's never been done before, and it never crossed my mind I would be the first!"

Model Leomie Anderson, who recently appeared on Netflix's Celebrity Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls and Holly Willoughby, will also take part. She became the first star eliminated on that show, later saying she was "robbed of the opportunity to show all of my skills".

Former Coronation Street and Brookside star Claire Sweeney has landed in Australia, saying: "I'm here to get my extensions done." She added: "I am a big fan of the show, I watch the show you are talking about. I regularly watch." She admitted she is "terrified" of maggots, recalling: "I remember as a kid my dad was a fisherman and there was a punnet of maggots in the fridge. For some reason, I remember putting my hand in the punnet and I can't even look at them now. It freaks me out."

Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page is also participating, with reports suggesting she wanted to make her four children proud. She said: "For the first couple of days in Australia, I'm sure I am going to be going, 'Nobody is saying 'mummy I'm hungry'. I won't have four kids to get ready for the school run. But after a while, I'm sure I will be like, 'I've got peace and time for my thoughts'."

Chloe Burrows, who rose to fame on season seven of Love Island in 2021, before starring on Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity SAS, and Scared of the Dark, is also in the cast. She is one of the names rumoured to be replacing Maya Jama as host of Love Island. "I've not gone camping in the jungle before!" she said. "My holidays are anywhere with a beach and a QR code to scan for a Pina Colada!"

Big Brother host AJ Odudu is swapping her role as ITV presenter to become a contestant. She said: "In the run up, I've been indulging, carb loading, drinking coffee and enjoying every treat. I'm going to go cold turkey when I enter camp - that's my tactic! I am going to take each day as it comes. I am feeling both excited and nervous."

Journalist Mariella Frostrup, who has presented programmes including BBC documentary The Truth About The Menopause and was announced as the UK Government's Menopause Employment Ambassador in 2024, said: "A good 50% of the reason that I am doing this is I am constantly telling other women we should grab our chances. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be written off at a certain age. So, I think this is me having a taste of my own medicine!"

Comedian Jack Skipper, who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and appeared on Live at the Apollo, said: "I was fitting carpets a few years ago, so I will be a bit starstruck when I am in camp. It's crazy. It is going to be a very surreal, 'pinch me' moment standing in front of Ant and Dec in camp."

Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson rounds up the announced cast. He previously addressed his fears, saying: "If you found a spider in your wardrobe, you'd go, 'Argh, I've got a spider' – out of context. If someone were to chuck 40 spiders at you as part of a television game show, you'd go, 'Oh, I know what's happening.' People before have asked me what I'm most frightened of, and I think it's celebrities. That would be challenging."