The official I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here lineup was announced on Monday night, and Wayne Rooney is gutted that he won't be joining two fellow Mancunians in the jungle
Wayne Rooney former player before the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 4, 2025 in Liverpool, United Kingdom
Wayne Rooney is friends with Angry Ginge and Aitch(Image: Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Wayne Rooney has admitted that he regrets not going on the latest season of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, which is set to air this coming Sunday. From footballers, rappers and YouTubers to models, comedians and national treasures, ITV announced the show's official lineup on Monday night.
Shona McGarty, Kelly Brook, Martin Kemp, Eddie Kadi, Alex Scott, Ruby Wax, Jack Osbourne, Lisa Riley, Aitch, and Angry Ginge will feature on the opening weekend of the show's 25th series. It'll be set in New South Wales, Australia, with Ant and Dec hosting 22 episodes.
Rooney spoke to Angry Ginge, a popular social media influencer from Salford, before he entered the jungle. They became friends last year when the YouTuber and Twitch streamer invited the Manchester United legend to play EA FC 24, formerly known as FIFA, with him and his friends online.
Rooney quickly hit it off with Angry Ginge, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, and the other social media stars, like Ethan Payne from the Sidemen. The Match of the Day pundit also struck up a friendship with Aitch, a rapper from New Moston whose real name is Harrison Armstrong, during appearances for 'Girth N Turf' – their FC 24 pro clubs team.
Shona McGarty, Eddie Kadi, Aitch, Alex Scott MBE, Jack Osbourne, Lisa Riley, Kelly Brook, Angry Ginge, Ruby Wax OBE and Martin Kemp - I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
Shona McGarty, Eddie Kadi, Aitch, Alex Scott MBE, Jack Osbourne, Lisa Riley, Kelly Brook, Angry Ginge, Ruby Wax OBE and Martin Kemp - I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
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So, when Rooney discovered that the duo were going into the jungle, he began to regret the decision to not follow suit. The former England international said: "I spoke to him last night and he was still in England, so I don't know if he is…
"No, Ginge is a great lad and I've seen who's linked as well, so if he is in there I'm sure he'll be really entertaining. If he's in it and Aitch is in it as well, I'm gutted that I didn't go in because I think the three of us could have been real fun in there."
"I'd be all right with the food situation, but I get bored, and some of the challenges, you know, the snakes and there was one a few years ago with the big ostrich. I wouldn't like that."
Angry Ginge and Aitch are competing on I'm A Celebrity together
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Coleen Rooney featured on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here last year. Wayne added: "I love the show and obviously Coleen was in it last year and maybe at some point but not this year, unfortunately."
Danny Jones was crowned King of the Jungle last year, narrowly winning the public vote. Coleen, who finished second, said: "Knowing that I have made it to the final makes me proud. I'm a proud mum, I'm a proud wife, I'm a proud daughter."
This year, Angry Ginge and Aitch will be looking to make Wayne proud. Speaking to ITV, the former said: "I’ve watched the show on the sofa with my mum ever since I was a kid. To take part in it this year is something I couldn’t pass up on.
Angry Ginge during Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 at Old Trafford in June
Angry Ginge during Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 at Old Trafford in June
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"But my whole life is spent on the phone. I’ve been away once for a week. And so, two to three weeks without it is going to be very educational to see how I will do."
Meanwhile, the latter, whose sister, Gracie, has the genetic disorder, said: "I feel like I have got this calling to raise awareness for Down syndrome and I feel that’s the perfect place. Also, you don’t always want to be stuck in the same world forever.
"You can branch out and do other things. You don’t have to stick to the code (rap world), because you think that’s cool. I did have to cancel some gigs for it. But you are never going to branch out if you do the same thing all the time."