Wayne Rooney has become the first celebrity to arrive in Australia ahead of the upcoming series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The former England and Manchester United captain, 41, landed at Brisbane Airport on Monday morning, accompanied by his manager, Paul Stretford.
He was photographed wearing a grey tracksuit and baseball cap while carrying several pieces of luggage.
Rooney, who is reportedly the highest-paid contestant in this year’s line-up, admitted that he had never visited Australia before.
Asked whether he was excited about arriving in the country, he replied: “Yeah, I’ve never been. I was meant to come once when going to Thailand.”
He also struggled to contain his laughter when questioned about whether he would entertain his fellow campmates with his well-known love of karaoke.
Following in Coleen Rooney’s Footsteps
The former footballer will be following his wife, Coleen Rooney, into the ITV reality show.
Coleen competed in the 2024 series and finished as runner-up after making it through the jungle challenges and reaching the final.
Reports suggest that ITV bosses have offered Wayne a fee exceeding the £1.5million Coleen reportedly received for her appearance, which made her the programme’s highest-paid contestant at the time.
Rooney Has Already Bonded With Chloe Burrows
Before arriving in Australia, Rooney reportedly established a friendship with former Love Island contestant Chloe Burrows.
According to a report by The Mail on Sunday, the pair first connected when they participated in the Soccer Aid charity football match in May.
A source said: “Chloe and Wayne bonded over their I’m A Celebrity booking back in May when they played in Soccer Aid together.”
The source explained that discussions about the reality programme were already underway at the time, meaning both celebrities knew they were expected to enter the jungle.
They were placed on the same team during the charity match and reportedly got along well.
The insider added that the pair had discussed their feelings about appearing on the programme and suggested their existing connection could develop further once they begin living together in camp.
Chloe also shared a photograph with Rooney following the event in Stratford, posing for a selfie with the former England captain.
She captioned the picture: “What an amazing experience.”
Wayne Rooney’s Recent Transformation
Rooney’s arrival in Australia comes after several months of noticeable changes to his appearance.
Recent photographs have shown the former footballer with a slimmer physique and a refreshed look.
His transformation reportedly includes a nose job and Invisalign treatment to improve his smile, alongside his weight loss.
The changes have attracted attention as he prepares for his latest television appearance.
The Real Rooneys Documentary Gives Fans Family Insight
Wayne and Coleen have also remained in the spotlight following the release of their fly-on-the-wall documentary, The Real Rooneys, last month.
The programme offered viewers a closer look at the couple’s family life, including their experiences raising their four sons: Kai, 16, Klay, 13, Kit, 10, and Cass, eight.
The documentary was filmed last year and provided an intimate glimpse into their home life.
When Does I’m A Celebrity Return?
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! will return to ITV on Monday, November 16, with Ant McPartlin, 50, and Declan Donnelly, 51, presenting the series.
The programme’s previous edition launched with 11.3 million viewers, while the 2025 series reached 23.4 million people across all platforms, representing 38 per cent of the television population.
Full Line-Up for This Year’s Series
Rooney is among several celebrities expected to compete in the upcoming edition.
Other reported contestants include Joanna Page, Ade Adepitan, Chloe Burrows, Ricky Wilson, Sharky, AJ Odudu, Mariella Frostrup, Leomie Anderson, Claire Sweeney, Leigh Francis and Jack Skipper.
As in previous editions, the programme is expected to introduce two additional contestants approximately one week after the first group of ten celebrities enters camp.
The late arrivals will typically be required to complete a separate challenge before joining the other contestants in the jungle.
