Wayne Rooney is reportedly set to become the highest-paid contestant in the history of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, with reports suggesting he has secured a six-figure sum for his appearance in the 2026 series. The Wayne Rooney I’m A Celebrity fee is said to surpass even the record-breaking amount paid to his wife Coleen two years ago.
Coleen Rooney, 40, earned a reported £1.5 million for her appearance on the show in 2024, when she finished as runner-up. Now her husband, the former England and Manchester United captain, is said to have secured an even bigger fee for the upcoming series, which begins on Monday, 16 November. The exact figure has not been confirmed by ITV or by Rooney’s representatives.
Following in Coleen’s Footsteps
Rooney, 40, will be following in his wife’s footsteps when he enters the Australian jungle. Coleen’s stint on the show in 2024 was widely praised, and she finished second in the series. Her husband’s appearance is expected to draw huge viewing figures, with the former footballer also installed as the early favourite to win.
William Hill, one of the UK’s biggest bookmakers, has put Rooney at 12/5 to be crowned King of the Jungle, giving him an implied chance of 29 per cent. Joanna Page is second favourite at 9/2, followed by Leigh Francis at 13/2 and Sharky at 17/2. The odds were correct as of 2.30pm on 3 November 2026.
The Star Name of the Series
Rooney is undoubtedly the star name in a twelve-strong lineup that also includes Joanna Page, Claire Sweeney, Ade Adepitan, Leomie Anderson, Chloe Burrows, AJ Odudu, Mariella Frostrup, Ricky Wilson, Jack Skipper, Sharky and Leigh Francis. Ant and Dec return to host the 26th series.
Whether Rooney can match — or beat — his wife’s runner-up finish remains to be seen. But with the biggest fee in the show’s 24-year history reportedly in his pocket, the former England captain is already making I’m A Celebrity history before he has even set foot in the camp.
Sources: BritBrief (3 Nov 2026); Spectrum FM (2 Nov 2026); MyBettingSites (3 Nov 2026); Hello Rayo (6 Nov 2026).
