From start date to full line-up – everything you need to know about I’m a Celeb’s ‘best series yet’
I’M A Celebrity is set for it’s best series ever now this year’s star-studded line-up has been revealed.
The ITV reality show once again returns to the Australian jungle to put this year’s batch of famous faces through disgusting trials and torment, all while hosts Ant and Dec watch on gleefully.
Fans don’t have long to wait for the screaming and tears to start either, as the launch show is only days away.
Ahead of it’s return, here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 series.
Who is in the I’m a Celebrity line-up?
ITV has gone all out this year to get some great names to enter the jungle.
Probably the biggest name in this year’s line-up is WAG Coleen Rooney, wife of former Manchester United player, Wayne Rooney.
Coleen, 38, has reportedly signed the biggest deal in the show’s history, surpassing Nigel Farage‘s £1.5million last year.
She isn’t the only glam to be entering the jungle though, as Love Island icon Maura Higgins has also signed up.
However, she will come face to face with one of her ex-boyfriend’s fathers in camp, as boxing legend Barry McGuigan will be a fellow campmate.
Maura, 33, dated Barry’s son Shane before she found fame on Love Island.
Other famous ladies swapping their glam celebrity lifestyles for jungle attire are singer Tulisa, former Strictly pro-dancer Oti Mabuse, YouTuber GK Barry and Loose Women‘s Jane Moore.
Meanwhile other top names to be signed include McFly‘s Danny Jones, radio DJ Melvin Odoom, Radio 1 rising star Dean McCullough and the Rev Richard Coles.
A soap star is always part of the I’m a Celeb line-up and this year’s pick is Coronation Street legend Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs.
Which celebrities have pulled out of this year’s series?
There’s been plenty of drama before this year’s series of I’m a Celebrity has even begun, with two major stars pulling out of facing the jungle critters.
Former Love Islander and boxing star Tommy Fury was the first big name to have a change of heart.
He reportedly pulled out of the show when a more lucrative offer to have a rematch with KSI was put on the table.
The boxing match would take place at the same time as Tommy – who split from fiancee Molly Mae Hague earlier this year – would have been in the jungle.
The best line-up in I'm A Celeb history
By Rod McPhee
JUST when you thought this year’s I’m A Celebrity was going to be dominated by strong women – here’s an alpha male coming out swinging for the fellas.
Former featherweight boxer Barry McGuigan is a heavyweight addition to the jungle – and at 63 he just so happens to be the oldest too.
But, along with the signing of Melvin Odoom, he is really just the cherry on the cake because the line-up already looks like one of the best in the show’s history.
Star signing is unquestionably Coleen Rooney, with ITV bosses hoping (and praying) she’ll spill more beans about her Wagatha clash with Rebekah Vardy.
But there’ll be some serious feminine energy in the camp with Sun columnist and Loose Women star Jane Moore sharing fireside discussions with pop star Tulisa and dancer Oti Mabuse.
Perhaps the only thing missing this year is an obvious “villain of the piece” who’s likely to find themselves nominated for most of the stomach churning trials.
In recent years the jungle’s welcomed Seann Walsh, Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage, who’ve all hit the headlines for dubious behaviour.
But actually, the villains didn’t turn out to be the standout stars of IAC, and it’s still the less well-known celebs who emerge as unlikely heroes.
And despite big names dominating the buzz, my money is on Corrie’s Alan Halsall or the Rev Richard Coles as the dark horses of this year’s jungle.
Meanwhile another sporting star also changed their mind about taking part in this year’s series.
Scottish football legend Ally McCoist pulled out of talks with ITV bosses, with boxer Barry taking his place instead.
Ally, 62, was also approached by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2019 and 2022.
Back in 2022, the Rangers legend told how he had rejected a spot on the critter-filled show.
When does I’m a Celebrity start?
I’m a Celebrity fans don’t have much longer to wait to see the new batch of celebs face their fears.
The new series is set to start on Sunday, November 17, just two weeks away.
A start time is yet to be confirmed by ITV but the series usually airs in the 9pm slot during its run.
And this year, fans are in for an extra treat, as the show’s spin-off series returns, four years after it was axed.
A show spokeswoman said: “Since Extra Camp came off air four years ago the conversation and engagement around I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! continues to grow across all social media platforms.
“This new ITV2 companion show will bring together all those conversations in one place, to give viewers the ultimate IAC destination for all of their news, gossip and behind the scenes fun around TV’s biggest entertainment show.”
Now called Unpacked, it will be hosted by former I’m a Celeb finalist Joel Dommett, last year’s king of the jungle Sam Thompson and radio DJ Kemi Rodgers.