Coleen Rooney has vowed to get “revenge” on her husband Wayne as he heads into the I’m A Celebrity jungle — two years after she finished as runner-up on the show herself. Wayne, 41, was the first celebrity to land in Australia for the 26th series, touching down at Brisbane Airport on Monday, 9 November, after a 21-hour flight, and Coleen’s message to him has already become one of the talking points of the week.
Coleen, who finished second in 2024, knows exactly what her husband is walking into: three weeks of rice and beans, Bushtucker Trials, camp chores and no contact with the outside world. Her “revenge” comment, reported as Wayne landed, is a playful nod to the fact that she has been through it all herself — and that she knows how hard it is.
Following in his wife’s footsteps
Wayne is reported to be one of the show’s most expensive signings ever, and ITV bosses are said to be hoping he can match his wife’s popularity on the show. Coleen was a hit with viewers in 2024, finishing as runner-up and winning praise for her down-to-earth manner and her willingness to take on the trials. Wayne, by contrast, is a less obvious reality television star, and his arrival has prompted as much curiosity as excitement.
He told reporters at Brisbane Airport that he had “never been to Australia” and smiled when asked about karaoke, as photographers captured his arrival. He was followed by social media star Sharky, Paralympian Ade Adepitan, model Leomie Anderson and Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney, with more arrivals expected in the coming days.
What Coleen’s “revenge” really means
The comment is, of course, a joke — but it also captures something real about the Rooneys’ relationship with the show. Coleen’s run in 2024 was a career-defining moment, turning her from a footballer’s wife into a television star in her own right. Wayne’s decision to follow her into the jungle is a big one, and the pressure on him to match her performance will be considerable.
For viewers, the Rooney storyline is already one of the season’s most compelling: a husband following his wife into the jungle, a wife who knows exactly what he is in for, and a promise of “revenge” that will no doubt be repeated when the show launches on Monday, 16 November. Whether Wayne can match Coleen’s popularity remains to be seen — but with his wife watching from home, he will have every incentive to try.
Related: I’m A Celebrity Stars Land in Australia; I’m A Celebrity 2026: Ant and Dec Survival Special.
Sources: BritBrief (10 Nov 2026).
