Key Highlights:
- I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! returns for series 26 on Monday, 16 November at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
- Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney headlines a star-studded cast that includes Ade Adepitan, Joanna Page, and Leigh Francis.
- The series returns to its classic filming hub in Murwillumbah, Australia, shifting away from its traditional Sunday night launch date.
ITV’s flagship reality competition, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, is preparing to return for its 26th series with one of the most prominent lineups in the programme’s history. The network confirmed that the upcoming run will abandon its traditional Sunday launch night, officially premiering on Monday, 16 November at 9pm. Hosts Ant and Dec will return to steer the campmates through grueling Bushtucker Trials as the flagship series lands back in its long-standing home of Murwillumbah, Australia.
Wayne Rooney and Star-Studded Lineup Confirmed
The confirmed roster for series 26 is headlined by former England and Manchester United football captain Wayne Rooney, representing one of the highest-profile signings to ever set foot in the Australian camp. Wayne Rooney leads an eclectic group of figures from television, music, digital media, and professional sports aiming to endure the Australian wilderness.
Joining Wayne Rooney is Gavin & Stacey actor Joanna Page, alongside Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson, model Leomi Anderson, television comedian Leigh Francis, and Love Island personality Chloe Burrows. Digital creator Sharkie also joins the camp, aiming to emulate the success of fellow content creators Niko Omilana and King Kenny by competing for the crown.
In a milestone for the franchise, Paralympian and television presenter Ade Adepitan will enter the jungle as the show’s first-ever contestant who uses a wheelchair, with ITV production teams making adjustments to accommodate him throughout camp operations and trial activities.
Production Returns to Australia Amid Format Expansions
The return to the Australian rainforest at Murwillumbah re-establishes the traditional show setting following the recent South African All-Stars spin-off, which featured notable tensions between contestants Adam Thomas, Jimmy Bullard, and David Haye. The flagship series also precedes an entirely new international spin-off, Wild Frontier, set in Canada. Production on that Canadian wilderness spin-off was temporarily shut down following a bear attack in the filming vicinity, placing public attention back on the established Australian format.
How to Watch and Broadcast Details
Viewers in the UK can watch the live launch of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! on Monday, 16 November at 9pm on ITV1. The episode will also stream live and on demand via ITVX, which requires a free registered account. On-demand catch-up through free accounts includes standard advertising.
For an ad-free viewing experience, ITVX Premium is available for £5.99 per month, which also grants users the ability to download episodes offline for mobile viewing. In Scotland, the series will be broadcast simultaneously on television via STV and streamed through STV Player for live and on-demand viewing. Further broadcast timings for subsequent episodes will be released as the season gets underway.
Why This Matters
The inclusion of major mainstream personalities like Wayne Rooney, paired with historic representation through Ade Adepitan, reflects ITV’s strategic investment in maintaining high linear television ratings amidst stiff streaming competition. By transitioning the launch from Sunday to a weekday Monday slot, ITV is adjusting its broadcast programming strategy to anchor audience retention across mid-November. The return to the Australian base also reassures viewers of format stability following dangerous incidents during new offshoot productions abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! series 26 begin?
The new series debuts on Monday, 16 November at 9pm, moving away from its customary Sunday night launch slot.
Who has been announced for the I’m A Celebrity series 26 lineup?
The confirmed lineup includes Wayne Rooney, Ade Adepitan, Joanna Page, Sharkie, Ricky Wilson, Leomi Anderson, Chloe Burrows, and Leigh Francis, with additional late entrants expected later in the run.
How can viewers stream the series online?
UK viewers can stream live and catch up on demand via ITVX using a free registered account. ITVX Premium is available for £5.99 per month to remove adverts, while viewers in Scotland can watch via STV Player.
