Wayne Rooney is reportedly earning £800,000 to appear on the new series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, a fee that dwarfs those of his fellow campmates and has sparked debate among fans.
The ITV show returns on Monday, 16 November, on ITV1 and ITVX, with the premiere moved from its usual Sunday slot to avoid clashing with ITV's live broadcast of the England vs Spain UEFA Nations League match. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are back to host the main programme live.
Reported fees for the 2026 line-up
Alongside Rooney, stars rumoured to be entering the jungle include Paralympian Ade Adepitan MBE, Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page, comedian Leigh Francis and social media personality Jack Skipper. Reports have now surfaced detailing each star's alleged payment, with a substantial disparity between them.
According to the reports, Kaiser Chiefs star Ricky Wilson is receiving £175,000, while Joanna Page, Leigh Francis and Big Brother host AJ Odudu are all securing £150,000. Ade Adepitan, TV personality Claire Sweeney and journalist Mariella Frostrup will reportedly pocket £100,000 each.
Fans react to the pay gap
Love Island star Chloe Burrows, model Leomie Anderson and YouTuber Sharky are each said to be earning £75,000, while comedian Jack Skipper is reportedly taking home the smallest cheque at £50,000. The figures went viral after a post by the television account Super TV on X accumulated 1.3 million views.
Rooney's rumoured pay packet drew strong reactions, with one user writing: "If these are true, then Rooney's agent needs to be given a massive raise! How is Wayne allegedly getting more than the next FIVE earners added together?!" Super TV replied: "Because it's Wayne Rooney?" Another added: "With the greatest respect to the rest of them Wayne Rooney is by far the biggest celebrity."
Coleen Rooney's 2024 fee
Many also expressed sympathy for Jack Skipper over the reported pay gap, while others suggested they would find it funny if he ultimately won the show despite earning the least. Although substantial, Rooney's reported fee is still less than what his wife Coleen Rooney received for her appearance in 2024, when she reportedly earned £1.5 million and finished as runner-up to McFly star Danny Jones.
ITV and a representative for Wayne Rooney have been contacted for comment. I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! starts on Monday, 16 November 2026, at 9pm on ITV.
