Jungle Fever 2026: Dream Campmates, Trial Nightmares and the Rumours We're Choosing to Believe

November has arrived, the nights are drawing in, and somewhere in Australia a producer is staring at a whiteboard covered in names, asterisks and the words 'do not let them near the critters'. Yes, I'm A Celebrity 2026 is nearly upon us. The new series is looming, the rumour mill is churning, and GloryTV has officially entered its annual state of jungle-related delusion.

We don't have a confirmed line-up yet – or, at least, nothing we'd bet the family silver on – but that has never stopped us before. Here's what we're hearing, what we're manifesting, and what we're already dreading in the best possible way.

The Rumour Mill Has Gone Into Overdrive

The internet's favourite game is guessing which famous faces will be handing over their phones and pretending to enjoy rice and beans. This year's whispers are a wonderfully chaotic mix. We've heard about a soap star with a memorable exit, an Olympic medallist who is apparently 'up for a laugh', a television chef who may or may not have been told to leave their knives at home, and a comedian whose agent has been suspiciously quiet on the subject.

Another rumour doing the rounds involves a sporting legend who would either win every trial or refuse to do any of them, which is honestly the energy we need. There's also been talk of a presenter from a much-loved daytime show, a pop star from the noughties, and a reality stalwart who treats the jungle like a second home. Treat all of this as gossip, not gospel – but do feel free to join us in reading far too much into every cryptic Instagram post.

Our Dream Line-Up: Chaos, Charisma and That Soap Star

If we were in charge of the casting clipboard – and, frankly, it's probably for the best that we're not – this is the camp we'd assemble.

• The Soap Star. Yes, that soap star. The one who can deliver a cliffhanger with a single raised eyebrow. We need someone who can turn a conversation about washing-up into a three-act drama, and a Weatherfield or Walford icon would do nicely.
• The Chaotic Chef. A culinary name who insists they can make anything taste good over a campfire, then nearly sets the jungle alight. Perfect television.
• The Olympic Medallist. Ridiculously competitive, slightly baffled by the concept of doing nothing, and guaranteed to smash a trial while politely apologising to the critters.
• The Radio 1 DJ. Here to provide commentary, accidental innuendo and a playlist for the camp. Will probably try to start a jungle podcast by day three.
• The National Treasure. A beloved actor or presenter who everyone respects, until they start hogging the campfire and telling the same story about a 1970s sitcom.
• The Reality Stalwart. Knows exactly how the show works, claims they're not playing a game, and is absolutely playing a game.
• The Comedian. There to break the tension, accidentally start a feud, and give us the reaction shot of the series.
• The Wildcard. A politician, a newsreader or a random legend from a niche quiz show. The wildcard is essential. The wildcard is where the chaos lives.

The Trials We're Dreading (and Secretly Craving)

Every year we say we won't watch the Bushtucker Trials through our fingers, and every year we lie. Here are the trial concepts we're already fearing.

• Crate Expectations. A contestant is locked in a crate, surrounded by things that scuttle, while trying to answer questions. It's a classic for a reason: the screams, the panic, the inevitable 'I can't do it' that turns into 'actually, I can' after a commercial break.
• Sewer Sorry. An underground trial involving pipes, slime and a celebrity who has definitely said 'I'm not scared of anything' in the pre-trial interview. We'd watch from behind a cushion.
• Ding Dong Ditch. A bell-ringing challenge with a twist: every bell releases a different creature. The name is silly, the concept is evil, and the reaction will be glorious.
• The Last Splash. An underwater trial where campmates must find stars while holding their breath. We hate it. We need it.

Camp Gossip: The Stories We're Already Refreshing For

The trials are only half the fun. The real drama happens in camp, where hunger, boredom and a single shared kettle can turn the nicest celebrity into a reality-TV villain. We're already preparing for a camp chef power struggle, a deeply unserious romance rumour, and at least one contestant who claims they're 'not here to make friends' while forming a tight alliance by the water cooler.

Then there's the letters from home, which will make us cry, and the unseen clips, which will make us wonder why the main show is hiding the best bits. We're also braced for the annual debate about who is 'playing a game' and who is 'being authentic', as if anyone enters the jungle purely for the fresh air.

The GloryTV Manifestation Circle

We don't know who will actually walk into camp, but we know what we want: big personalities, genuine laughs, a few spectacular trial meltdowns and absolutely no tedious manufactured feuds. Bring us the soap star. Bring us the chaotic chef. Bring us the Olympic hero who politely thanks the spiders.

And if the producers are reading this – which they definitely are, obviously – please remember that the best jungle years are the ones where the campmates feel like a messy, ridiculous family. We'll be here, remote in hand, cushion at the ready, refreshing the gossip feed. See you in the jungle.