I’m a Celebrity 2026 Line-Up: The 12 Stars Reportedly Heading Into the Jungle

There is a strange moment every year before I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! begins.

The jungle is ready.

Ant and Dec are ready.

The start date is official.

But the celebrities?

That part is still surrounded by whispers, airport sightings and reports about who has supposedly signed the contract.

And in 2026, the reported list is a fascinating one.

A Manchester United legend.

A Victoria’s Secret model.

A YouTube star.

A Love Island favourite.

A Paralympian.

A rock singer.

And a comedian who once fitted carpets for a living.

ITV has officially confirmed that I’m a Celebrity returns on Monday, November 16, 2026, but at the time of writing, the broadcaster has not formally confirmed the full cast.

Still, multiple British outlets are now reporting the same 12 names.

So who could be swapping comfortable homes for rice, beans and Bushtucker Trials?

Here’s the reported I’m a Celebrity 2026 line-up.

When Does I’m a Celebrity 2026 Start?

Let’s begin with the part that is official.

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! returns on:

Monday, November 16, 2026 at 9pm

The show will air on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly — better known simply as Ant and Dec — are returning to host from Australia.

This year’s Monday launch is slightly unusual.

The series traditionally begins on a Sunday, but ITV’s coverage of England’s UEFA Nations League game against Spain on November 15 created a scheduling clash.

One day later, the jungle opens.

Is the I’m a Celebrity 2026 Cast Official?

Not completely.

This is an important distinction.

Reports published on November 2 and 3 say a 12-person line-up has been assembled, but ITV has not yet officially confirmed each contestant.

The broadcaster has previously said that names linked with the series should be treated as speculation until the official announcement.

So the names below are the reported 2026 cast, not FameFunda claiming they are officially confirmed.

And if the reports are accurate, ITV has put together quite a mixture.

Reported I’m a Celebrity 2026 Line-Up

The 12 celebrities currently reported to be heading into the Australian jungle are:

The same group has now appeared across multiple reports ahead of the official cast announcement.

But some names immediately stand out more than others.

Wayne Rooney Could Be the Biggest Signing of the Season

If Wayne Rooney really walks into camp, ITV will have secured the name most likely to dominate the opening episode.

Rooney hardly needs an introduction in Britain.

The former Manchester United and England striker became one of the most famous footballers of his generation before moving into management and punditry.

But there is another reason his appearance would attract attention.

His wife Coleen Rooney competed on I’m a Celebrity in 2024 and reached the final.

Now Wayne could be following her into the same jungle.

Reports have described him as potentially one of the programme’s biggest-ever signings.

And there is something genuinely intriguing about that.

Football fans have watched Rooney deal with stadiums, pressure and huge matches.

None of that tells us how he reacts when someone places a plate of insects in front of him.

Leomie Anderson: From the Runway to the Jungle?

Another name currently creating fresh search interest is Leomie Anderson.

The British model has worked at the highest levels of fashion and made history in 2019 when she became the first Black British Victoria’s Secret Angel.

She also already has some survival-style reality-TV experience.

Leomie appeared on Netflix’s Celebrity Bear Hunt, although her time on that show ended quickly.

The jungle would give her another chance.

And it is difficult to imagine two environments further apart:

a fashion runway under perfect lights,

and an Australian camp where breakfast may depend on somebody successfully crawling through a box of snakes.

That contrast alone could make her one of the more interesting contestants.

Sharky Could Bring a Completely Different Audience

Older I’m a Celebrity viewers may know every footballer, actor and presenter on the list.

Younger viewers may look at Sharky first.

His real name is Sharmarke Mohamud, and he is best known as a member of the hugely popular British YouTube collective Beta Squad.

Their comedy videos, challenges and social experiments have built an enormous young online audience.

If Sharky is confirmed, ITV would be following a strategy that has already worked.

Last year’s winner, Angry Ginge, also arrived with a major online following and ended up being crowned King of the Jungle.

A YouTube creator entering traditional prime-time television no longer feels unusual.

The interesting part is what happens when the editing is no longer theirs.

Chloe Burrows Already Knows Reality TV

Unlike several people on the reported list, Chloe Burrows knows exactly what reality television can do.

She became widely known through Love Island and has since remained in television, radio and podcasting.

That gives her one advantage.

She understands cameras.

She understands public opinion.

She understands how quickly viewers can decide they love or dislike someone.

But I’m a Celebrity removes the glamorous part of reality TV.

No villa.

No carefully prepared date.

No easy exit from an uncomfortable conversation.

If Chloe is part of the final line-up, the jungle could show a very different version of someone viewers already think they know.

Ricky Wilson Could Bring Chaos to Camp

The Kaiser Chiefs frontman may be one of the easiest contestants to imagine enjoying the madness.

Ricky Wilson became famous through songs including Ruby and I Predict a Riot, and television audiences will also remember him as a coach on The Voice UK.

He has stage experience.

Live-TV experience.

And years of dealing with unpredictable crowds.

That still does not prepare anyone for a Bushtucker Trial.

But personality matters enormously on I’m a Celebrity.

Some contestants enter camp with the biggest name and disappear into the background.

Others turn ordinary conversations around the fire into the moments people remember.

Ricky feels like someone capable of the second.

Joanna Page Could Become the Camp Favourite

For millions of viewers, Joanna Page will always be Stacey Shipman from Gavin & Stacey.

That familiarity could immediately make her one of the warmest names in the reported cast.

But I’m a Celebrity regularly changes how audiences see actors.

We usually know them through characters.

The jungle removes the script.

No Stacey.

No carefully written punchline.

Just Joanna.

And sometimes that is exactly how a contestant unexpectedly becomes a favourite.

Ade Adepitan Could Make I’m a Celebrity History

One of the most significant names on the reported list is Ade Adepitan.

The Paralympic medalist and television presenter is reportedly being lined up to become the programme’s first wheelchair-using contestant.

Reports suggest producers have considered adaptations to camp and challenges so he can participate.

If confirmed, his appearance would be much more than another celebrity booking.

Ade has spent years presenting travel, sport and documentary programmes.

He also has the competitive mindset of an elite athlete.

Watching how the show adapts some of its physical trials could become one of the most interesting parts of the season.

AJ Odudu Would Be Swapping One Big Reality Show for Another

AJ Odudu already lives close to the world of reality television.

She is known as a television presenter and has become one of the familiar faces associated with Big Brother.

Now she is reportedly moving from asking contestants questions to becoming one herself.

There is a big difference.

Presenters know what is happening next.

Contestants usually do not.

That loss of control could be fun to watch.

Claire Sweeney Brings Decades of Television Experience

Claire Sweeney is another name likely to be instantly familiar to British television viewers.

Her career has included Brookside, musical theatre and more recently Coronation Street.

That gives her decades of experience in front of cameras.

But the jungle is not really about whether someone can perform.

The contestants viewers remember most are often the ones who stop performing.

A long television career does not necessarily tell us how somebody reacts when hungry, tired and living beside people they met three days ago.

Mariella Frostrup Could Become the Camp’s Great Storyteller

Mariella Frostrup brings something quite different.

She has spent decades working across television, radio and journalism.

She is used to conversations.

And camp life creates a lot of them.

Between the spectacular trials and celebrity names, some of the best I’m a Celebrity moments are simply people sitting around talking about lives the audience knew little about.

Mariella has had a long enough career to bring plenty of those stories.

Sometimes the person who looks least likely to create reality-TV chaos ends up being the person everyone wants to listen to.

Leigh Francis Without Keith Lemon Could Be Interesting

Leigh Francis is best known to many viewers through the deliberately outrageous Keith Lemon character.

That creates an immediate question.

How much Keith Lemon will enter the jungle?

And how much Leigh Francis will viewers actually meet?

Reality TV has occasionally given comedians a chance to step outside the characters that made them famous.

If Leigh joins the camp, viewers may get a clearer look at the person behind years of exaggerated television comedy.

That could be much more interesting than simply waiting for jokes.

Jack Skipper Could Be the Surprise Name

Jack Skipper probably has the most unusual career journey on the reported list.

Before becoming a stand-up comedian, he worked as a carpet fitter.

He later built a following through online comedy, toured with Russell Kane and appeared on The Stand Up Sketch Show.

Compared with Rooney, Joanna Page or Claire Sweeney, Jack may be one of the names casual viewers know least.

That is not necessarily a disadvantage.

I’m a Celebrity repeatedly turns less-famous contestants into breakout personalities.

Sometimes entering the jungle without a huge public image gives someone more room to surprise people.

Why the 2026 Line-Up Looks Carefully Built

If this really is the final group, there appears to be a clear strategy behind it.

Football fans get Wayne Rooney.

Reality-TV audiences get Chloe Burrows.

YouTube viewers get Sharky.

Fashion audiences get Leomie Anderson.

Music fans get Ricky Wilson.

Comedy viewers get Leigh Francis and Jack Skipper.

Older television audiences get Claire Sweeney, Joanna Page and Mariella Frostrup.

And figures such as AJ Odudu and Ade Adepitan connect several different audiences.

It does not look like twelve variations of the same celebrity.

That matters.

The jungle is usually most entertaining when people who would never normally spend three weeks together suddenly have no choice.

Which Celebrities Are Not on the Reported List?

Several names had previously been linked with the 2026 series but are missing from the latest reported 12.

These have included:

Jesy Nelson

Christopher Dean

Nadiya Bychkova

Su-Elise Nash

and others.

That does not automatically mean they will not appear.

I’m a Celebrity has used late arrivals before.

But until ITV confirms the actual cast, every supposedly final list should still be treated with some caution.

Who Won I’m a Celebrity 2025?

Last year’s King of the Jungle was Angry Ginge, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle.

The YouTuber and Twitch streamer beat Tom Read Wilson in the 2025 final, receiving 65% of the final public vote according to Radio Times.

His win is particularly relevant this year because it shows how much the programme’s audience has changed.

You do not need to have spent 30 years on television to win I’m a Celebrity.

An online creator can enter with a younger fan base and leave as one of mainstream television’s most talked-about personalities.

That makes someone like Sharky especially interesting this time around.

When Will ITV Confirm the I’m a Celebrity 2026 Cast?

ITV has confirmed the November 16 launch, but has not officially confirmed the reported 12-person line-up as of November 3.

Historically, the broadcaster announces the full group close to the premiere.

Radio Times notes that ITV has described the currently suggested names as speculation.

So expect the final confirmation closer to launch week.

And until that happens, there is always room for one surprise.

Why This Season Could Be Fun

On paper, Wayne Rooney is the giant name.

But the biggest celebrity does not always make the best campmate.

That is the strange magic of I’m a Celebrity.

A football legend can disappear into the background.

A comedian nobody knew can become everyone’s favourite.

A glamorous model can turn out to love every disgusting trial.

A confident celebrity can discover one tiny spider is enough to destroy them.

The jungle removes the normal context around fame.

No football pitch for Rooney.

No runway for Leomie.

No YouTube edit for Sharky.

No Love Island villa for Chloe.

No stage for Ricky.

Just a group of people sleeping in the same camp and trying to win dinner.

That is when celebrity becomes personality.

And by November 16, we should finally know which of these reported names will actually be there.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does I’m a Celebrity 2026 start?

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! returns on Monday, November 16, 2026 at 9pm on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.

Who is in the I’m a Celebrity 2026 line-up?

The reported line-up includes Wayne Rooney, Joanna Page, Ade Adepitan, Sharky, Chloe Burrows, Ricky Wilson, AJ Odudu, Mariella Frostrup, Leomie Anderson, Claire Sweeney, Leigh Francis and Jack Skipper. ITV has not yet officially confirmed those 12 names.

Is Wayne Rooney doing I’m a Celebrity 2026?

Wayne Rooney is widely reported to be part of the 2026 line-up, but ITV has not officially confirmed his participation at the time of writing.

Is Leomie Anderson doing I’m a Celebrity?

Leomie Anderson is among the 12 celebrities reported to have signed up for the 2026 series. Official ITV confirmation is still pending.

Is Sharky from Beta Squad doing I’m a Celebrity?

Sharky, whose real name is Sharmarke Mohamud, is part of the reported 2026 line-up. He is best known as a member of Beta Squad.

Who hosts I’m a Celebrity 2026?

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly return as hosts from Australia.

Who won I’m a Celebrity 2025?

YouTuber and streamer Angry Ginge won the 2025 series, beating Tom Read Wilson in the final.

Disclaimer: The November 16, 2026 premiere date has been officially confirmed, but ITV has not yet formally confirmed the full contestant line-up. Names in this article are based on current published reports and should be treated as reported or rumoured until ITV announces the cast. FameFunda will update this page when official confirmation becomes available.