Wayne Rooney is set to follow in wife Coleen's footsteps by entering I'm A Celebrity later this month – but he is in a unique position before his trip to the Australian jungle when it comes to one of ITV's pre-show rules.
According to The Sun, the Manchester United and England legend is one of the 12 celebrities who have signed up for the 2026 edition of the show, which gets underway on November 16.
He'll have to adhere to a number of protocols before entering the jungle, including a psychological evaluation, as well as informing I'm A Celeb bosses about whether there are any trials he would not be able to complete on medical grounds. But there is one specific rule that he might technically not be able to avoid.
In theory, campmates are not supposed to tell anybody that they are entering the jungle before the line-up is officially announced by ITV.
But, The Sun claim, they are also not supposed to seek advice from previous campmates on how to deal with certain aspects of the Australian jungle. Given that Rooney, of course, lives in the same house as his wife, a former contestant, that presents a unique scenario for him compared to the other contestants – though it's a rule that ITV, understandably, don't appear to be too interested about as they have no way of enforcing it.
Though Rooney never visited the camp himself while Coleen was on the show because he was manager of Plymouth Argyle at the time, their two youngest children Kit and Cass did make the trip to Australia with Coleen's mother – so he will no doubt be aware of some of the goings-on in camp that the cameras don't show.
Actor Danny Thomas, who won the 2022 edition of I'm A Celebrity and plays Aaron Dingle in Emmerdale, revealed that he had sought advice from his former co-star Adam Thomas, who himself entered the jungle back in 2016, and won I'm A Celeb South Africa earlier this year.
"I confided in Adam about me taking part as he is one of my best friends in the world," Miller said. "I feel like I am a step ahead as I've asked him questions about what it will be like."
And Martin Kemp appeared on I'm A Celeb in 2025 – six years after his son, Roman, entered the camp. He admitted that Roman had given him advice about what to do in camp.
Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts, another former contestant, revealed on Heart Radio earlier this year that celebrities can't 'ask for too much advice'.
Once Rooney gets in the jungle, he will not have to do more than two trials consecutively after a new rule was introduced by ITV last year. He will also be banned from using his mobile phone – meaning that winning a Dingo Dollar Challenge midway through the show will be his only opportunity to see the football scores.
While ITV have not yet officially confirmed the 12 celebrities that will be travelling to Australia later this month, the full list has been leaked early – and there are a number of well-known faces alongside Rooney.
Joanna Page, who played Stacey Shipman in the hit sitcom Gavin and Stacey, is among the reported contestants, as well as Kaiser Chiefs lead singer Ricky Wilson, actress Claire Sweeney and comedian Leigh Francis (a.k.a. Keith Lemon).
Former Paralympic bronze medalist Ade Adepitan, meanwhile, is set to make history as the first-ever wheelchair user to take part in I'm A Celebrity.
It was speculated as far back as July that the TV presenter was in talks to enter the camp, with ITV bosses said to have been exploring ways in which to adapt the camp. The 53-year-old contracted polio as a child, which damaged both of his legs. He has paralysis in his left leg and partial use of his right leg.
Full list of reported I'm A Celebrity 2026 contestants
Ade Adepitan – TV presenter and former wheelchair basketball player
Leomie Anderson – Model and TV presenter
Claire Sweeney – Actress and singer
Leigh Francis – Comedian and TV presenter
Wayne Rooney – TV pundit, football manager and former footballer
Chloe Burrows – TV personality and radio presenter
Ricky Wilson – Singer and Kaiser Chiefs frontman
Joanna Page – Actress and TV panelist
AJ Odudu – TV presenter
Jack Skipper – Comedian
Mariella Frostrop – Journalist and TV presenter
Sharky – Social media personality and member of 'Beta Squad'
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