The Manchester United legend could follow Coleen into the jungle, but there are some Bushtucker Trials he definitely won’t fancy

Wayne Rooney could soon be swapping football punditry for Bushtucker Trials, but there’s one part of jungle life he has already admitted he wouldn’t enjoy.

The former Manchester United and England captain is reportedly in advanced talks to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Later this year, two years after his wife Coleen Rooney finished runner-up.

Reports suggest ITV has been negotiating with Rooney for some time and sees the former footballer as a potentially huge signing. 

There is one important catch, though.

Rooney has not officially been confirmed as a campmate. ITV told TV Guide that any names currently being suggested for I’m A Celebrity remain speculation.

But if Rooney does eventually head Down Under, it might not come as much of a surprise.

He’s been dropping some fairly big hints about the jungle for quite some time.

Wayne Rooney has already revealed what he’d hate in the jungle

Food might not be the biggest problem for Rooney.

It’s what could be waiting for him during the Bushtucker Trials.

Speaking last year about the possibility of appearing on the programme, Rooney admitted that he thought he would cope with the limited food.

Boredom concerned him more.

But there were also two things he particularly didn’t like the sound of: snakes and a previous trial involving a large ostrich.

Rooney said at the time that those were the sort of challenges he wouldn’t fancy. His comments were reported by GOAL while discussing whether he could eventually follow Coleen into the jungle.

That could become particularly interesting if ITV really does manage to get him into camp.

Bushtucker Trials aren’t exactly known for respecting celebrities’ dislikes.

Rooney was ‘gutted’ he didn’t do I’m A Celeb last year

It isn’t the first clue Rooney has given about wanting a go at the programme.

When discussing last year’s line-up, he admitted he was disappointed not to be heading into camp himself.

Rooney was particularly interested in sharing the jungle with rapper Aitch and eventual winner Angry Ginge, saying he thought the three of them would have had plenty of fun together. 

He also made his position on appearing in the programme surprisingly clear.

Rooney said I’m A Celebrity was something he would “never say no to”, explaining that it was a programme he and Coleen had always watched and had previously discussed doing. 

At the time, however, he ruled himself out of that year’s series.

Less than a year later, reports suggest the situation could be very different.

Coleen Rooney could have plenty of jungle advice

If Wayne does sign on the dotted line, he already has someone at home who knows exactly what he’s getting himself into.

Coleen competed on I’m A Celebrity in 2024 and made it all the way to the final, eventually finishing runner-up.

Current reports suggest Wayne was encouraged by how much his wife enjoyed the experience and that Coleen has been giving him advice about jungle life. 

There could be another motivation too.

Rooney is famously competitive, and reports claim he wants to show sons Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass what their dad can do.

Perhaps more dangerously for Coleen, he is also reportedly joking about giving her jungle performance a run for its money.

Matching second place would require surviving quite a few trials first.

And those previous comments about snakes suddenly look considerably more interesting.

Wayne Rooney is becoming a familiar face away from football

A potential jungle appearance would also continue a noticeable change in Rooney’s career.

After spells in football management, the former England captain has become increasingly involved in television and broadcasting.

He has worked as a BBC football pundit and has also moved into entertainment formats.

But viewers are about to see considerably more of Rooney’s life away from football.

Wayne and Coleen are opening their family life to cameras for Disney+ documentary series The Real Rooneys, which launches on 24 September.

The 10-part programme follows Wayne, Coleen and their four sons during what Disney describes as a pivotal year for the family.

It includes Wayne adjusting to life away from football management, Coleen’s growing career and eldest son Kai pursuing his own football ambitions.

The timing means viewers could get a much closer look at Rooney at home just as speculation about another major reality TV appearance begins to grow.

Is Wayne Rooney confirmed for I’m A Celebrity 2026?

No, not yet.

Reports say Rooney is in advanced talks about appearing on the next series, but ITV has not announced him as a contestant.

An ITV spokesperson told Radio Times that names being suggested for the programme remain speculation.

So there is still a significant difference between “in advanced talks” and “confirmed.”

But Rooney’s previous comments make the possibility particularly intriguing.

He has already said he loves the programme.

He has already said he would never rule it out.

He was already gutted about missing one series.

And he has even told us which jungle challenges he’d rather avoid.

If Rooney does eventually walk across that famous bridge, viewers may already know exactly which Bushtucker Trial ingredients to vote for.